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Horm Metab Res 2015; 47(06): 411-417
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1395667
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Genetics of Neuroendocrine Factors in Rheumatoid Arthritis

M. Mravcova
1   Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
,
L. Chovanova
1   Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
2   Center for Molecular Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
,
L. Paulikova
2   Center for Molecular Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
,
M. Vlcek
1   Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
2   Center for Molecular Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
,
J. Rovensky
3   National Institute of Rheumatic Diseases, Piestany, Slovakia
,
Z. Killinger
4   5th Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
,
J. Wendl
5   Fidelitas, s.r.o., Rheumatology Out-patient Clinic, Bratislava, Slovakia
,
R. Imrich
1   Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
2   Center for Molecular Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 11 July 2014

accepted 12 November 2014

Publication Date:
12 December 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Inadequate production of cortisol related to inflammation and decrease in adrenal androgen production are hallmarks of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-related endocrine findings in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In particular, lower dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels were consistently found in a subset of premenopausal RA females. Recently, several new gene variants have been identified in association with serum DHEAS concentrations, such as in SULT2A1 and HHEX genes. These DHEAS-related genes and other variants involved in HPA regulation may play a role in the adrenal androgen deficiency in RA. The aim of our study was to review involvement of genetic mechanisms of HPA regulation, with focus on adrenal androgens, in the context of RA pathophysiology. Although, effects of the DHEAS-related gene variants appear to be relatively small compared to other well-known factors such as age, complex interactions between DHEAS-associated genotypes and adrenal androgen hypofunction phenotype may exist in RA. Further studies analyzing specific neuroendocrine phenotype/genotype in RA are needed.

Key words

dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate - hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis - androgens - gene polymorphism
 

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