Circulating Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Levels and Lumbar Bone Mineral Density in Korean Women

BACKGROUND: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is expressed in adipose tissue, macrophages, endothelial cells, and osteoblasts by parathyroid hormone administration. Circulating MCP-1 levels are positively correlated with the degree of obesity. However, whether circulating MCP-1 affects bone metabolism is unclear. Therefore, in this study, the association between circulating MCP-1 levels and lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) based on menopausal status was assessed. METHODS: We recruited 109 premenopausal and 46 postmenopausal Korean women and examined the association between circulating MCP-1 concentrations and various parameters including lumbar BMD based on menopausal status. RESULTS: A significant increase in body weight, abdominal circumference, body mass index, and MCP-1 levels (from 245.9±73.5 to 336.5±101.7 pg/mL) and significant decrease (from 0.992±0.114 to 0.772±0.113 g/cm(2)) in lumbar BMD were observed after menopause. However, circulating MCP-1 levels were not correlated with any parameters including lumbar BMD in premenopausal or postmenopausal women. CONCLUSION: Circulating MCP-1 levels were not correlated with lumbar BMD regardless of menopausal status.