title: Quantitative and qualitative alterations of acute-phase proteins in healthy elderly persons.
abstract: To assess acute-phase proteins in relation to ageing, we measured serum concentrations of C-reactive protein of AGP in 131 healthy elderly individuals (aged >/= 65 years) living independently in the community, and 47 healthy younger individuals. Concentrations of CRP in the older persons (median = 3.0 microg/ml) were significantly greater than in the younger group (median = 0.9 microg/ml, p = 0. 0003). Concentrations of SAA and AGP were similar in the two groups, but AGP glycosylation forms with reduced binding affinity for concanavalin-A (changes that have been observed in chronic inflammatory states) were increased in the elderly sample (p<0.0001). These findings suggest that both quantitative and qualitative alterations of acute-phase proteins occur with physiological ageing in humans.
authors.affiliation: SP Ballou, MD, MetroHealth Medical Center, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Ballou
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Lozanski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hodder
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rzewnicki
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mion
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sipe
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kushner
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D009961:Orosomucoid; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein