Adipokine Dysregulation in Turner Syndrome: Comparison of Circulating Interleukin-6 and Leptin Concentrations with Measures of Adiposity and C-Reactive Protein

Women with Turner syndrome (TS) have increased risks of atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. We hypothesized that women with TS have adverse metabolic or inflammatory markers for cardiovascular disease compared with normal women and estrogen-deficient controls. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at University College London Hospitals, UK. One hundred seventeen estrogen-treated women with TS and normal fasting blood glucose were compared with 30 age-matched normal controls and 31 estrogen-treated women with 46,XX premature ovarian failure (POF). The main outcome measures were markers of the metabolic syndrome, including the adipokines IL-6 and leptin, and C-reactive protein (CRP). TS women were more obese than controls (waist circumference, 79.9 +/- 12.4, 73.5 +/- 6.9, and 74.7 +/- 8.6 cm in TS, normal subjects, and POF controls, respectively; P = 0.005; body mass index, 26.8 +/- 5.8, 23.7 +/- 3.2, and 22.9 +/- 3.4 kg/m2; P < 0.001). This obesity was associated with increased CRP (2.9 +/- 1.5, 0.8 +/- 1.0, and 1.2 +/- 0.9 mg/liter; P < 0.001) and IL-6 concentrations (1.5 +/- 0.7, 1.0 +/- 1.5, and 1.2 +/- 0.5 pg/ml; P = 0.014), but lower fasting serum insulin (4.7 +/- 2.3, 6.3 +/- 3.0, and 6.9 +/- 2.9 mIU/ml; P = 0.004), glucose (83 +/- 11, 90 +/- 7, and 90 +/- 7 mg/dl; P < 0.001), and leptin (10.2 +/- 6.3, 14.4 +/- 7.6, and 14.8 +/- 8.1 ng/ml; P = 0.048). Triglyceride concentrations were similar in TS and POF women and were greater than in normal controls (97 +/- 53, 97 +/- 53, and 71 +/- 27 mg/dl; P = 0.024). We conclude that women with TS have various physical and biochemical features suggestive of the metabolic/insulin resistance syndrome, but there is a discrepancy among CRP, IL-6, and leptin, with leptin and fasting insulin concentrations being lower than expected for the degree of obesity. Obesity and estrogen therapy do not fully explain these findings. Women with TS may have specific metabolic defects contributing to cardiovascular risk.