title: 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 (IL-1ra), 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.
authors.affiliation: Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, Longitudinal Studies Section, Clinical Research Branch, ASTRA Unit, Harbor Hospital 5th Floor, 3001 S Hanover St, Baltimore, MD, USA. ferruccilu@grc.nia.nih.gov
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corsi
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lauretani
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandinelli
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bartali
authors.forename: Dennis D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Taub
authors.forename: Jack M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guralnik
authors.forename: Dan L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Longo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins