title: The -174 C/G locus affects in vitro/in vivo IL-6 production during aging.
abstract: IL-6 in vitro production, as well as the serum/plasma concentration of the cytokine, increase with age. In the present investigation, a total of 62 individuals (31 males and 31 females), aged from 29 to 93 years of age (mean age of males: 60.4 years; mean age of females: 59.4 years) were assessed for IL-6 plasma concentration, and for IL-6 in vitro production, using supernatants of 4h cultured adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (aPBMC). The subjects were examined for a C to G transition at nucleotide -174 of the IL-6 gene promoter (-174 C/G locus), and were classified as C allele carriers (C+) or non-carriers (C-). We found that: (i) aPBMC from C+ individuals produced smaller amounts of IL-6 in vitro than C- individuals; (ii) IL-6 production by aPBMC increased with age in C+ but not in C- subjects; (iii) there was no correlation between IL-6 plasma levels and in vitro IL-6 production by aPBMC; (iv) IL-6 C+ individuals had lower plasma levels than C- individuals, and this phenomenon was significant only in men. On the whole our data indicate that the production of IL-6 is genetically controlled and age- and gender-dependent.
authors.affiliation: Direzione Scientifica Italian National Research Centers on Aging (INRCA), Via S. Margherita, n.5, 60121 Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonafè
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavallone
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giovagnetti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marchegiani
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cardelli
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mugianesi
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giampieri
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moresi
authors.forename: Rosalia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stecconi
authors.forename: Rosamaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lisa
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003562:Cytidine; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006147:Guanine; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D003562:Cytidine; D006147:Guanine