Age-related increases in circulating inflammatory markers in men are independent of BMI, blood pressure and blood lipid concentrations.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether age-related increase in concentrations of circulating inflammatory mediators is due to concurrent increases in cardiovascular risk factors or is independent of these.


RESULTS
Cytokines (IL-6, IL-18), chemokines (6Ckine, MCP-1, IP-10), soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin) and adipokines (adiponectin) were measured in the plasma of healthy male subjects aged 18-84 years (n=162). These were related to known cardiovascular risk factors (age, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plasma total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations) in order to identify significant associations. Plasma concentrations of sVCAM-1, sE-selectin, IL-6, IL-18, MCP-1, 6Ckine, IP-10 and adiponectin, but not sICAM-1, were significantly positively correlated with age, as well as with several other cardiovascular risk factors. The correlations with other risk factors disappeared when age was controlled for. In contrast, the correlations with age remained significant for sVCAM-1, IL-6, MCP-1, 6Ckine and IP-10 when other cardiovascular risk factors were controlled for.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma concentrations of some inflammatory markers (sVCAM-1, IL-6, MCP-1, 6Ckine, IP-10) are positively correlated with age, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. This suggests that age-related inflammation may not be driven by recognised risk factors.
Miles
Elizabeth A
EA
Institute of Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 7PX, United Kingdom. Electronic address: eam@soton.ac.uk.
Rees
Dinka
D
The Robert Gordon University and Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
Banerjee
Tapati
T
Institute of Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 7PX, United Kingdom.
Cazzola
Roberta
R
Department of Preclinical Sciences "LITA Vialba", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Lewis
Sian
S
School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom.
Wood
Richard
R
School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom.
Oates
Rachael
R
Institute of Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 7PX, United Kingdom.
Tallant
Anna
A
Institute of Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 7PX, United Kingdom.
Cestaro
Benvenuto
B
Department of Preclinical Sciences "LITA Vialba", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Yaqoob
Parveen
P
School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom.
Wahle
Klaus W J
KWJ
The Robert Gordon University and Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
Calder
Philip C
PC
Institute of Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 7PX, United Kingdom.
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D052242:Adiponectin; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D002784:Cholesterol