Circulating Interleukin-6 (but Not Other Immune Mediators) Associates with Criteria for Fried’s Frailty among Very Old Adults

Abstract

Background and Aim. Frailty is a geriatric condition resulting from physiological changes covering the musculoskeletal, immune, and neuroendocrine systems, leading to a greater inflammatory state. The present research aimed to investigate the association of components of Fried’s frailty (as well as of the phenotype as a whole) with total serum levels of a panel of inflammatory mediators. Methods. One hundred and sixty-one very old patients (aged ≥80 years) devoid of cognitive decline were eligible for analyses. Clinical and biochemical data along with physical and cognitive assessments encompassing dual-energy X-ray scans and hand dynamometry were adopted to investigate frailty criteria, while circulating immune mediators (IFNγ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα) were assessed using high-throughput flow cytometry. Results. Preliminarily, IL-6 correlated positively with waist-to-hip ratio and C-reactive protein and negatively with glycemia. In analyses controlled for these factors, serum levels of IL-6 were comparatively augmented among the very old participants with reduced grip strength (OR = 3.299; 95% CI 1.08–6.09; p = 0.032 ) and among those with slow walk speed (OR = 2.460; 95% CI 1.16–7.05; p = 0.022 ). Conclusions. Our study shows a strong negative correlation of IL-6 levels with Fried’s frailty components of grip strength and walk speed in very old adults, regardless of confounding factors.

Short-Term and Lifelong Exercise Training Lowers Inflammatory Mediators in Older Men

“…These findings were observed in participants ~46–52year of age, and the present study extends these findings into sexagenarians (termed the “young-old”), supporting the contention that exercise habits modify inflammation, potentially through indirect adipose tissue reduction. In terms of inflammation and physical function correlates, Santos Morais Junior et al (2020) observed IL-6 was correlated with frailty in very old adults which adds weight to the notion increased inflammatory mediators are consistently associated with frailty and mortality in the very old ( Michaud et al, 2013 ; Chen et al, 2014 ). This investigation extends these findings to the young old, suggesting inflammatory mediators are associated with physical function, as evidenced by the correlation between IL-6 and VO 2peak at baseline, and hsCRP and VO 2peak throughout the investigation.…”

A relationship among the blood serum levels of interleukin‐6, albumin, and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and frailty in elderly patients with chronic coronary syndrome

“…Unfortunately, they do not provide an objective diagnostic basis, clear pathogenesis, and sound intervention methods. Studies have shown a high prevalence of senile frailty, and there was a close relationship among CGA and various serum indicators and frailty 8‐10 . Similarly, our previous study found that disabled 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) were independent influencing factors of frailty in patients with stable chronic diseases 11 .…”

Indian Hedgehog release from renal epithelia drives local and remote organ fibrosis

“…Using human cell culture, murine experimental kidney disease and human kidney biopsies we demonstrate that IHH is a major driver of fibrosis in the kidney and heart, with inhibition of TNFa, NFkB or Hedgehog signalling blocking these effects in both organs after injury (summarised in Figure 6). These data link the immune activation known to be present in ageing, inflammation and organ injury [3][4][5] to the predisposition towards progressive fibrosis seen in all these conditions 8,9 .…”

“…'Physiological' ageing leads to reduced adaptive immunity 1,2 and increased expression of mediators of innate immune activation including IL-6 and TNFa 3,4 . Immune activation is also present in multiple chronic illnesses which become more common with ageing, including chronic kidney disease (CKD) [5][6][7] .…”