The origins of age-related proinflammatory state

Abstract

We hypothesized that the rising levels of inflammatory markers with aging is explained by cardiovascular risk factors and morbidity becoming progressively more prevalent in older persons. Information on inflammatory markers, cardiovascular risk factors, and diseases was collected in 595 men and 748 women sampled from the general population (age, 20-102 years). In both men and women, older age was associated with higher levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL1ra), IL-18, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen, while soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6r) increased significantly with age only in men. Adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and morbidity, the age regression coefficients became substantially smaller in models predicting IL-6, IL-1ra, IL-18, and fibrinogen and larger in the model predicting sIL6r. Adjustment for cardiovascular morbidity substantially reduced the effect of age on CRP in men but not in women. Findings were confirmed in a subgroup of 51 men and 45 women with low risk profile and no cardiovascular morbidity. Part of the "proinflammatory state" in older persons is related to the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factor and morbidity. (Blood. 2005;105: 2294-2299)

Low plasma selenium concentrations and mortality among older community-dwelling adults: the InCHIANTI Study

“…The exact biological mechanisms by which low selenium levels contribute to an increased risk of mortality may be related to the role that selenium plays in the age-related pro-inflammatory state (20). Higher selenium levels may potentially protect against oxidative stress and reduce redox-related upregulation of IL-6 (21).…”

High interleukin-6 plasma levels are associated with low HDL-C levels in community-dwelling older adults: The InChianti study

“…Interestingly, it has been shown that a chronic low inflammatory state, reflected by increased levels of C reactive protein (CRP) or other cytokines, is associated not only with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease [14,15], but also with the presence of the metabolic syndrome [16,17]. Noteworthy, the aging process itself is associated with both an increase in the plasma concentration of several pro-inflammatory cytokines [18], and a progressive decrease in plasma HDL-C concentration [19]; nevertheless, the possible co-occurrence of these two phenomena in older age has never been exhaustively investigated in population-based epidemiological studies.…”

Effects of 174 G/C polymorphism in the promoter region of the interleukin-6 gene on plasma IL-6 levels and muscle strength in elderly women

“…It plays an important role in the homeostasis of the immune and neuroendocrine systems, as well as in the balance of proinflammatory/antiinflammatory pathways and in response to stress (1,2,5). There is evidence that the concentration of IL-6 increases in the supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures and in the plasma of elderly individuals (1,6,7). Increased plasma IL-6 levels are associated with the presence of cardiovascular and rheumatic diseases, sarcopenia, functional decline, and mortality in the elderly (1,7,8).…”