| Objective To investigate the correlation between serum Interleukin 31 (IL-31) levels and bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP). Methods BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 80 OP patients (aged from 50 to 75) and 90 healthy controls (aged from 50 to 75). Serum levels of IL-31, BAP, BGP, and TRACP-5b were measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Serum levels of cross linked N-telopeptides of type I (NTX) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were measured using automated electrochemiluminescence system. Results The levels of IL-31 in OP women were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (45.12 ± 6.65 μg/L vs 27.58 ± 5.09 μg/L, P=0.002). Serum IL-31 levels were positively correlated with age, BMI, BAP, BGP, TRACP-5b, NTX, and 25 (OH) D in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. There was a significant negative correlation between BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck and age, IL-31, BAP, TRACP-5b, and NTX. After adjusting for age and BMI in the partial correlation analysis, there was a significant negative correlation between IL-31 and BMD of the lumbar and femoral neck. Conclusion The levels of serum IL-31 in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis increase, and are negatively correlated with BMD of lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck. |