TY - JOUR
T1 - Novel protein markers of androgen activity in humans
T2 - Proteomic study of plasma from young chemically castrated men
AU - Giwercman, Aleksander
AU - Sahlin, K. Barbara
AU - Pla, Indira
AU - Pawłowski, Krzysztof
AU - Fehniger, Carl
AU - Giwercman, Yvonne Lundberg
AU - Leijonhufvud, Irene
AU - Appelqvist, Roger
AU - Marko-Varga, György
AU - Sanchez, Aniel
AU - Malm, Johan
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding: The work was supported by ReproUnion 2.0 (grant no 20201846), which is funded by
Publisher Copyright:
© Aleksander Giwercman et al.
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - Background: Reliable biomarkers of androgen activity in humans are lacking. The aim of this study was, therefore, to identify new protein markers of biological androgen activity and test their predictive value in relation to low vs normal testosterone values and some androgen deficiency linked pathologies. Methods: Blood samples from 30 healthy GnRH antagonist treated males were collected at three time points: (1) before GnRH antagonist administration; (2) 3 weeks later, just before testosterone undecanoate injection, and (3) after additional 2 weeks. Subsequently, they were analyzed by mass spectrometry to identify potential protein biomarkers of testosterone activity. Levels of proteins most significantly associated with testosterone fluctuations were further tested in a cohort of 75 hypo- and eugonadal males suffering from infertility. Associations between levels of those markers and cardiometabolic parameters, bone mineral density as well as androgen receptor (AR) CAG repeat lengths, were explored. Results: Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (4HPPD), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 6 (IGFBP6), and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (ALDOB), as well as a Multi Marker Algorithm, based on levels of 4HPPD and IGFBP6, were shown to be best predictors of low (<8 nmol/l) vs normal (>12 nmol/l) testosterone. They were also more strongly associated with metabolic syndrome and diabetes than testosterone levels. Levels of ALDOB and 4HPPD also showed association with AR CAG repeat lengths. Conclusions: We identified potential new protein biomarkers of testosterone action. Further investigations to elucidate their clinical potential are warranted.
AB - Background: Reliable biomarkers of androgen activity in humans are lacking. The aim of this study was, therefore, to identify new protein markers of biological androgen activity and test their predictive value in relation to low vs normal testosterone values and some androgen deficiency linked pathologies. Methods: Blood samples from 30 healthy GnRH antagonist treated males were collected at three time points: (1) before GnRH antagonist administration; (2) 3 weeks later, just before testosterone undecanoate injection, and (3) after additional 2 weeks. Subsequently, they were analyzed by mass spectrometry to identify potential protein biomarkers of testosterone activity. Levels of proteins most significantly associated with testosterone fluctuations were further tested in a cohort of 75 hypo- and eugonadal males suffering from infertility. Associations between levels of those markers and cardiometabolic parameters, bone mineral density as well as androgen receptor (AR) CAG repeat lengths, were explored. Results: Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (4HPPD), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 6 (IGFBP6), and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (ALDOB), as well as a Multi Marker Algorithm, based on levels of 4HPPD and IGFBP6, were shown to be best predictors of low (<8 nmol/l) vs normal (>12 nmol/l) testosterone. They were also more strongly associated with metabolic syndrome and diabetes than testosterone levels. Levels of ALDOB and 4HPPD also showed association with AR CAG repeat lengths. Conclusions: We identified potential new protein biomarkers of testosterone action. Further investigations to elucidate their clinical potential are warranted.
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U2 - 10.7554/eLife.74638
DO - 10.7554/eLife.74638
M3 - Article
C2 - 35230239
AN - SCOPUS:85128487338
SN - 2050-084X
VL - 11
JO - eLife
JF - eLife
M1 - e74638
ER -