Endocrine Abstracts

This study was designed to investigate effects of raloxifene treatment on serum interleukin (IL)-4 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta)1 concentrations in healthy postmenopausal women. The study was approved by the local ethics committee. Thirty five women were enrolled into this study and randomly divided in two groups. While 16 women were included in raloxifene group, control group was comprised of remaining 19 women. The study group continuously received 60 mg raloxifene daily while control group was not given any medication. Serum IL 4 and TGFbeta1 concentrations were determined by ELISA at the beginning and 3 months after commencement of the study. Independent samples and two related samples t tests were used when necessary. At the beginning of study serum IL 4 and TGFbeta1 concentrations of study and control groups were not significantly differ (6.8 ± 2.3 vs. 5.3 ± 1.4, and 27067.5±28418.4 vs. 25877.9±25574.7 mean±SD respectively, p>0.05, independent samples t test). Raloxifene treatment caused a significant decrease in serum IL 4 concentration when compared to control (5.0±1.0 and 5.2±0.8 respectively, p<0.05, independent samples t test) and compared to pretreatment levels (p<0.05, two related samples t test). Serum TGFbeta1 concentrations of raloxifene and control groups (24582.5 ± 24561.5 and 28467.4 ±29460.5, respectively) were not significantly changed after months of treatment (p>0.05). Raloxifene treatment causes a decrease in serum IL 4 concentration in healthy postmenopausal women. Further studies are needed to explain underlying mechanism and importance of this deviation.