Objective: This study aims to investigate whether alterations in androgen and androgen receptor (AR) exist in patients with gouty arthritis (GA).
Methods: (1) 179 GA and 47 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. Clinical data were collected; fasting blood samples were obtained for biochemical examinations and blood cells counts. (2) Serum testosterone, AR mRNA and protein levels were detected. (3) Correlations between serum testosterone and AR mRNA levels were evaluated using Spearmans rank correlation coefficient analysis.
Results: The serum testosterone levels of acute gouty arthritis (AGA: 3.74 ± 1.42 ng/ml) or non-acute gouty arthritis (NAGA: 4.90 ± 2.02 ng/ml) patients were significantly lower (P<0.001) compared to HC (6.13 ± 1.48 ng/ml), and those with AGA were even lower than NAGA (3.74 ± 1.42 vs 4.90 ± 2.02 ng/ml, P<0.001). Compared to HC, the levels of AR mRNA (0.001 ± 0.001 vs 0.006 ± 0.002) or protein (1.00 ± 0.16 vs 1.71 ± 0.41) were markedly lower (P<0.001) in GA. In GA patients, the serum testosterone levels were negatively correlated with very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (r=-0.31, P=0.032) or glucose (r=-0.38, P=0.012) levels, but positively correlated with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (r=0.47, P=0.001). The AR mRNA levels in GA patients were negatively correlated with uric acid levels (r=-0.55, P=0.004).
Conclusion: Altered expression of androgen and its receptor might be involved in the regulation of plasma uric acid and lipid metabolism in GA patients, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of gouty arthritis.
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