Gernot Faustmann

Circulating leptin and NF‐κB activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells across the menstrual cycle

Using the menstrual cycle as a model, this study focused on longitudinal changes and associations within a physiological network known to play a role in female fertility, including, as biologically active nodes, NF-κB, leptin and adiponectin, β-carotene, adipose tissue, and progesterone. In 28 women, leptin, adiponectin, β-carotene, and progesterone concentrations, NF-κB p65 and p50 activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (known to possess estrogen, progesterone and leptin receptors), total body fat (TBF) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) mass were determined at early (T1) and late follicular (T2) and mid (T3) and late (T4) luteal phase. Leptin and adiponectin concentrations were higher, while NF-κB p65 activation was lower at T3 compared with T1. NF-κB p65 activation was inversely related to leptin concentrations at T1, T3, and T4. β-Carotene was inversely related to leptin (T1,T2,T4) and SAT (T1,T3,T4). NF-κB p50 activation was inversely related to TBF (T4) and SAT (T3,T4), and leptin was positively related to TBF and SAT (T1-T4). Progesterone was inversely related to leptin (T2,T3), adiponectin (T3), TBF (T3,T4), and SAT (T2,T3,T4). By providing evidence of luteal phase-specific reduced NF-κB p65 activation in women under physiological conditions, this study bridges the gap between existing evidence of a Th1-Th2 immune response shift induced by reduced NF-κB p65 activation and a Th1-Th2 shift previously observed at luteal phase. For the first time, inverse regressions suggest inhibitory effects of leptin on NF-κB p65 activation at luteal phase, along with inhibitory effects of leptin as well as adiponectin on progesterone production in corpus luteum.

Progesterone-associated arginine decline at luteal phase of menstrual cycle and associations with related amino acids and nuclear factor kB activation

Background/Objectives Given their role in female reproduction, the effects of progesterone on arginine and related amino acids, polyamines and NF-κB p65 activation were studied across the menstrual cycle. Methods Arginine, ornithine and citrulline as well as putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and N-acetyl-putrescine were determined in plasma, NF-κB p65 activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and progesterone in serum of 28 women at early (T1) and late follicular (T2) and mid (T3) and late (T4) luteal phase. Results Arginine and related amino acids declined from T1 and T2 to T3 and T4, while progesterone increased. At T3, arginine, ornithine, and citrulline were inversely related with progesterone. Changes (ΔT3-T2) in arginine, ornithine, and citrulline were inversely related with changes (ΔT3-T2) in progesterone. Ornithine and citrulline were positively related with arginine, as were changes (ΔT3-T2) in ornithine and citrulline with changes (ΔT3-T2) in arginine. At T2, NF-κB p65 activation was positively related with arginine. Polyamines did not change and were not related to progesterone. All results described were significant at P < 0.001. Conclusions This study for the first time provides data, at the plasma and PBMC level, supporting a proposed regulatory node of arginine and related amino acids, progesterone and NF-κB p65 at luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, aimed at successful preparation of pregnancy.