Assessment of STAT3, IL-6, IL-11 Levels and Their Association with Osteoporosis in Premenopausal Women in Tikrit, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease characterized by decreased bone density and increased fragility, leading to a higher risk of fractures. Thyroid hormones and cytokines like IL-6, IL-11, and STAT3 may play a role in bone metabolism and early bone loss. Objectives: To assess the levels of T4, T3, TSH, STAT3, IL-6, and IL-11 and investigate their association with osteoporosis in premenopausal women in Tikrit Province, Iraq. Method and material: A case-control study was conducted in Tikrit Teaching Hospital, Tikrit Province, Iraq. Extended from July 2024 to the end of July 2025. Which include 90 females as follows: 60 females with osteoporosis and 30 healthy females as a control group. Sandwich ELISA kits (Sunlong-China) were used to detect target antigens, with HRP-labeled antibodies for signal detection. Optical density was measured at 450 nm using a spectrophotometer. Result: The mean±SD of T4 for the study group and control was 74.94±15.08, 96.70±18.81, respectively with highly significant P value was <0.0001**, and the mean±SD of T3 for the study group and control was 1.904±0.4082, 2.265±0.3468, respectively with highly significant P value was <0.0001**, and the mean±SD of TSH for the study group and control was 2.066±0.3812, 2.252±0.3887, respectively with significant P value was 0.0326*. and the mean±SD of STAT3for the study group and control was 15.59±3.331, 14.49±2.134, respectively non-significant P value was 0.1017NS. The mean±SD of IL 6 for the study group and control was 49.83±6.573, 46.62±8.192, respectively with significant P value was 0.0478*. The mean±SD of IL 11 for the study group and control was 138.4±28.30, 152.0± 29.04, respectively with significant P value was 0.351N. Conclusion: Compared to healthy controls, women with osteoporosis exhibited much decreased T3, T4, and TSH levels as well as greater IL-6 levels. These results imply that the development of osteoporosis could be influenced by thyroid dysfunction and chronic inflammation. There were no notable variations in IL-11 or STAT3 levels.