Serum Interleukin-6 and Bone Metabolism in Patients with Thyroid Function Disorders¹

Abstract

To determine the possible involvement of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the bone loss of hyperthyroidism, relationships between thyroid status, biochemical and densitometric parameters of bone metabolism, and IL-6 were studied in female subjects. Patients with hyperthyroidism caused by either toxic nodular goiter or Graves' disease had significantly higher serum IL-6 concentrations than normal controls. Within the control group, serum IL-6 was higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women, but this influence of menopausal status was not seen in the hyperthyroid patients. The production of IL-6 by blood mononuclear cells was higher in cells from the hyperthyroid women. Bone turnover was increased in the hyperthyroid patients based on serum osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline excretion, and the hyperthyroid group also had reduced radius bone mineral content (BMC). A subgroup of hyperthyroid patients who had the lowest BMC (values more than 1 SD below normal age-matched controls) also had serum IL-6 concentrations significantly greater than those of hyperthyroid patients showing less reduction of BMC. The correlations observed in this study support the possibility that IL-6 plays a role in mediating the bone loss that results from excess thyroid hormone.

RANKL/Osteoprotegerin System and Bone Turnover in Hashimoto Thyroiditis

“…Hypothyroidism is known to be associated with depressed humoral and cell-mediated immunity [28][29][30] and the lower levels of IL-6 in hypothyroid patients included in our study might be explained by such a suppressive effect. While studies report conflicting results on IL-6 levels with regard to thyroid status, it is interesting to note that the levels of BTMs were not in correlation with IL-6 levels in those studies as well [31][32][33].…”

Hypercalcaemia as the initial presentation of Graves’ disease

“…The underlying mechanism for hypercalcaemia in hyperthyroidism is increased bone remodelling. Increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) in hyperthyroidism stimulates osteoclastic activity and alters osteoblastic coupling 6. Also, tri-iodothyronine (T3) increases the sensitivity of bone to IL-6 7.…”

Мінеральна Щільність Та Метаболізм Кісткової Тканини У Разі Тиреотоксикозу

“…В умовах тиреотоксикозу у пацієнтів зафіксовано зниження у сироватці крові вітаміну D, що також негативно впливає на метаболізм кісткової тканини і призводить до зниження МЩКТ [17]. Крім того, у пацієнтів з гіпертиреозом у сироватці крові підвищується концентрація інтерлейкіну-6, який стимулює остеокласти та може активізувати паратгормон [18].…”