Age-associated increased interleukin-6 gene expression, late-life diseases, and frailty.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine that is normally tightly regulated and expressed at low levels, except during infection, trauma, or other stress. Among several factors that down-regulate IL-6 gene expression are estrogen and testosterone. After menopause or andropause, IL-6 levels are elevated, even in the absence of infection, trauma, or stress. IL-6 is a potent mediator of inflammatory processes, and it has been proposed that the age-associated increase in IL-6 accounts for certain of the phenotypic changes of advanced age, particularly those that resemble chronic inflammatory disease [decreased lean body mass, osteopenia, low-grade anemia, decreased serum albumin and cholesterol, and increased inflammatory proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A]. Furthermore, the age-associated rise in IL-6 has been linked to lymphoproliferative disorders, multiple myeloma, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. This overview discusses the data relating IL-6 to age-associated diseases and to frailty. Like the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone, it is possible that certain clinically important late-life changes are due to an inappropriate presence of IL-6.
Ershler
W B
WB
Institute for the Advanced Studies in Aging and Geriatric Medicine, Washington, DC 20006, USA. wershler@iasia.org
Keller
E T
ET
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6