Serum angiogenin levels in the female from birth to postmenopause

This study investigated serum angiogenin levels of the potent angiogenic factor angiogenin, during fetal and neonatal life, childhood, adulthood, pregnancy and postmenopause and compared them with respective levels in age-matched males. Serum angiogenin levels were measured by an enzyme immunoassay in 139 healthy male and female subjects, allocated in the above six groups. Multiple linear regression applied (a) for both genders and (b) only for females showed serum angiogenin levels in adults to differ statistically highly significantly from levels in cord blood (P = 0.0001), neonates (P = 0.0001), children (P = 0.0001), and pregnant women (P = 0.01), but not from "elderly" subjects (P = 0.80). A significant difference existed between levels in the proliferative and secretory phase of the menstrual cycle (P = 0.006). Furthermore, a significant trend for serum angiogenin levels with advancing age groups was noted (P = 0.0001). In conclusion, serum angiogenin levels increase significantly from fetal life to adulthood, possibly implying additional biological functions to that of angiogenesis.