Relationship between age-related serum concentrations of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 and those of osteoprotegerin and leptin in native Chinese women.

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1), TGF-beta2, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and leptin are important cytokines in the regulation of bone remodeling. We investigated the relationship of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 concentrations with those of OPG and leptin in Chinese females. METHODS: The serum concentrations of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, OPG, and leptin were measured by ELISA in 459 healthy Chinese females aged 25-80 y. RESULTS: The mean values (+/-SD) of the serum concentrations of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, OPG, and leptin in Chinese females were 29.7+/-1.69 microg/l, 13.7+/-3.86 microg/l, 3.81+/-1.96 pmol/l, and 10.5+/-2.01 microg/l, respectively. Further, the serum TGF-beta1 concentrations of postmenopausal women were significantly lower than those of perimenopausal and premenopausal women (24.3+/-1.59 vs 33.4+/-1.69 and 37.6+/-1.64, respectively), while the TGF-beta2 concentrations of postmenopausal women were significantly higher than those of perimenopausal and premenopausal women (14.6+/-3.91 vs 13.5+/-3.93 and 11.7+/-2.68, respectively). The serum TGF-beta1 concentration was found to be significantly negatively correlated with age (r=-0.335, P=0.000) and the TGF-beta2 concentration, to be significantly positively correlated with age (r=0.230, P=0.000). The TGF-beta1 concentration was found to be significantly negatively correlated with both TGF-beta2 (r=-0.261, P=0.000) and OPG (r=-0.313, P=0.000) concentrations; a significantly positive correlation was found between the TGF-beta1 and leptin concentrations (r=0.164, P=0.000) and between TGF-beta2 and OPG concentrations (r=0.432, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: These results provide age-related reference values of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 in Chinese adult women, and reveal the relationships between these cytokines.

[Genetic diversity and origin of mitochondrial DNA D-loop region for some domestic goat breeds of China].

The complete sequences of mitochondrial DNA D-loop of 140 individuals in 10 Chinese goat (Capra hiruc) breeds were analyzed by DNA sequencing technology. The results showed that the length of mtDNA D-loop in Chinese goats was 1 211-1 213 bp. There were 84 different haplotypes and 171 polymorphic sites. The mean nucleotide diversity (Pi) and haplotype diversity (Hd) were 0.02063+/+0.00225 and 0.988+/-0.003, respectively, and the average number of nucleotide differences (k) was 24.896. The results showed an abundant genetic diversity in domestic goats of China. The NJ tree indicated that there were two main branches in Chinese domestic goats, thereinto, one branch was clustered with Capra aegagrus, and Capra falconeri was clustered alone, which indicated that Capra aegagrus had more contribution to Chinese domestic goat breeds.