Quantitative and qualitative alterations of acute-phase proteins in healthy elderly persons.
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.
Ballou
S P
SP
SP Ballou, MD, MetroHealth Medical Center, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA.
Lozanski
F B
FB
Hodder
S
S
Rzewnicki
D L
DL
Mion
L C
LC
Sipe
J D
JD
Ford
A B
AB
Kushner
I
I
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
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D009961:Orosomucoid; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein