Abstract
Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) circulate
in plasma and bind their cognate ligands with high affinity, offering a steroid delivery
system to target tissues by a variety of mechanisms. Analysis of these steroid-binding
proteins is gaining importance in the clinical setting, although more information
is warranted on their diurnal and biological variation. This study shows that plasma
SHBG (in normal subjects) exhibits little diurnal or biological variation over the
30 day period studied, in contrast to CBG, where plasma levels peak in the early afternoon.
This leads to attenuation of the diurnal free cortisol level rhythm compared to total
cortisol. We also show that plasma CBG is significantly lower in male subjects with
the metabolic syndrome compared to age-matched lean counterparts, and may therefore
act as a surrogate marker of insulin resistance. The consequence of lower levels of
CBG in these obese male subjects is reflected by higher levels of circulating free
cortisol, potentially offering a more favourable environment for adipogenesis.
Key words
Cortisol · obesity · metabolic syndrome · CBG · SHBG
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John G. Lewis
Steroid and Immunobiochemistry Laboratory
Canterbury Health Laboratories · P.O. Box 151 · Christchurch · New Zealand
Fax: +64 (3) 36 40-889
eMail: john.lewis@cdhb.govt.nz
