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Endocrine Abstracts (2022) 83 PNO1 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.83.PNO1

EYES2022 ESE Young Endocrinologists and Scientists (EYES) 2022 Pituitary and Neuroendocrinology (10 abstracts)

Leukocyte telomere length and neuregulin-4 levels in female patients with acromegaly: Relationship between disease activation and body fat distribution

Coskun M 1 , Altinova A. E. 1 , Babayeva A 1 , Sel A. T. 1 , Yapar D 2 , Karaca M 3 , Yalcin M. M. 1 , Akturk M 1 , Balos Toruner F 1 & Yetkin I 1


1Gazi University Faculty of Medicine: Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism; 2Gazi University Faculty of Medicine: Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Department of Public Health; 3Gazi University Faculty of Medicine: Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Department of Internal Medicine


Background and Objectives: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is considered as a marker of cellular aging. Brown adipose tissue in women has been claimed to be associated with long life in women. Neuregulin-4 is a new batokine secreted from brown adipose tissue, and it is thought to play a role in the regulation of glucose, lipid metabolism and energy balance. The aim of the study is to examine LTL and serum Neuregulin-4 levels as well as their relations with disease activity, co-morbidities and body fat distribution.

Materials and Methods: Forty female (23 active, 17 inactive) with acromegaly aged 18-65 years and 39 healthy female volunteers who were similar in terms of age and body mass index were included in the study. LTL was studied by the quantitative Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The ratio of telomere repeat amplification product (T) to single-copy gene product (S) was calculated as the relative T/S ratio. T/S ratio < 1 was accepted as shortened telomere length. Serum Neuregulin-4 levels were studied by ELISA method. Body fat distribution was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and VİScan.

Results: There was no difference in median LTL values between acromegaly and control groups (P = 0.530). The percentage of T/S<1 in patients with acromegaly (60.0%) was similar to that of the control group (43.6%) (P = 0.144). Serum Neuregulin-4 levels were significantly higher in patients with acromegaly than those of the control group (1.06 vs 0.79 ng/ml, P = 0.037). There were no significant differences with respect to LTL, percentage of T/S<1 and neuregulin-4 levels between active and controlled acromegaly groups (p>0.05). Neuregulin-4 correlated positively with glucose, triglyceride, and lean body mass in the acromegaly group. Although a significant negative correlation was observed between LTL and Neuregulin-4 in the control group, this relationship was not observed in the acromegaly group.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that acromegaly is associated with unchanged LTL and high neuregulin-4 levels in female patients. However, the relationship between acromegaly, the aging process, and neuregulin-4 involves complex mechanisms, and further studies are needed.

Keywords: acromegaly, leukocyte telomere length, neuregulin-4.

Volume 83

ESE Young Endocrinologists and Scientists (EYES) 2022

Zagreb, Croatia
02 Sep 2022 - 04 Sep 2022

European Society of Endocrinology 

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