OBJECTIVE Serum levels of sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) have been reported in the literature to increase with age in both sexes. We have investigated the variations in levels of androgens, insulin and IGF-I with age and have evaluated their putative roles to obtain a better understanding of the increase in SHBG. DESIGN Cross-sectional pilot study of blood samples in healthy elderly subj...

BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be programmed in utero by androgen excess. Our aim was to examine the role of the sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and androgen receptor (AR) gene polymorphisms, in the phenotypic expression of PCOS. METHODS A cohort of 180 women with PCOS and 168 healthy women of reproductive age were investigated. BMI was recorded and the hormonal profile w...

BACKGROUND Low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and total testosterone (T) in men have been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). As total T and SHBG levels are highly correlated, we determined whether SHBG influences the risk of T2DM through T or whether SHBG is an independent predictor of T2DM. METHODS Longitudinal analyses were conducted on men par...

OBJECTIVE Coffee consumption has been inversely associated with type 2 diabetes risk, but its mechanisms are largely unknown. We aimed to examine whether plasma levels of sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) may account for the inverse association between coffee consumption and type 2 diabetes risk. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a case-control study nested in the pr...

BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies have shown that sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) has a role in glucose homeostasis in both men and women. However, a prospective study on Japanese-American subjects concluded that SHBG was not a significant risk factor in either men or women, suggesting ethnic differences. We were not aware of any evaluation of SHBG in subjects of African ancestry. OBJECT...

Estradiol (E2) and 5alpha-androstan-3alpha,17beta-diol (3alpha-diol) have been implicated in prostate hyperplasia in man and dogs, but neither of these steroids bind to androgen receptors (ARs). Recently, we reported that E2 and 3alpha-diol stimulated generation of intracellular cAMP via binding to a complex of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and its receptor (R(SHBG)) on prostate cells. We...

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was initially described as a plasma protein synthesized in, and secreted by, the liver. It was discovered by its ability to bind certain androgens and estrogens and, for many years, was believed to serve as a transporter/reservoir for the steroids which it bound. Subsequently, it became clear that the cell membranes of selected tissues contained a receptor fo...

␮L of 0.5 mg/L peroxidase-linked RCA 120 in BSA/PB. Because this lectin can bind to immobilized immuno-globulins through their carbohydrate moiety, we ran a blank test in which no serum was added; the absorbances of these blanks, always Ͻ0.15, were acceptable. Concentrations of the dSHBG standard solutions ranged from 0 to 500 ␮g/L (Fig. 1B). Serum samples were usually diluted 1:286 and 1:546 i...

STUDY QUESTION Is there an association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) rs1799941, rs6257, rs6259 and rs727428 variants in a large series of Mediterranean women? SUMMARY ANSWER The rs727428 and rs6259 variants are associated with PCOS in Mediterranean women. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY The level of SHBG, the primary plasma transport protein for ...

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder characterized by coexistence of several cardiometabolic (CM) factors, i.e. hyperlipidemia, obesity, high blood pressure and insulin resistance. The presence of MetS is strongly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The syndrome was originally defined as an adult disorder, but MetS has become increasingly recogn...