The Leydig cell biomarker INSL3 as a predictor of age-related morbidity : Findings from the EMAS cohort

Ivell, Richard
Heng, Kee
Severn, Katie
Antonio, Leen
Bartfai, Gyorgy
Casanueva, Felipe F.
Huhtaniemi, Ilpo T.
Giwercman, Aleksander
Maggi, Mario
O’Connor, Daryl B.
O’Neill, Terence W.
Punab, Margus
Rastrelli, Giulia
Slowikowska-Hilczer, Jolanta
Tournoy, Jos
Vanderschueren, Dirk
Wu, Frederick C.W.
Anand-Ivell, Ravinder

Open link

Publication date

November 2022

DOI

10.3389/fendo.2022.1016107

Publisher

Frontiers Media S. A.

Abstract

Background: Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is a constitutive hormone secreted in men by the mature Leydig cells of the testes. It is an accurate biomarker for Leydig cell functional capacity, reflecting their total cell number and differentiation status. Objectives: To determine the ability of INSL3 to predict hypogonadism and age-related morbidity using the EMAS cohort of older community-dwelling men. Materials & methods: Circulating INSL3 was assessed in the EMAS cohort and its cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships to hypogonadism, here defined by testosterone (T) <10.5nmol/l, and a range of age-related morbidities determined by correlation and regression analysis. Results & discussion: While INSL3 is an accurate measure of prima...