Inflammatory Markers Change with Age, but do not Fall Beyond Reported Normal Ranges.
We examined the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF, IL-6R, TNF-R1, and CRP and the dynamics of changes in these levels according to age. The study included healthy individuals of 20-90 years of age. Participants were divided into subgroups based on their decade of life, and into subgroups of ≥65 or <65 years. Serum cytokine levels were assayed by ELISA, and CRP using an immunoturbidimetric method. Serum CRP levels were within the normal range for all subgroups. The 60- to 70-year age group showed higher CRP than the 20- to 30- (p = 0.003), 30- to 40- (p = 0.009), and 40- to 50- (p = 0.030) year age groups. Serum cytokine levels were low. It was greater in the 60- to 70-year age group than in the 20- to 30- (p = 0.008) and 30- to 40- (p = 0.040) year groups, and was greater in the 70- to 90-year group than the 20- to 30-year group (p = 0.043). Serum TNF-R1 level in the 70- to 90-year group was greater than in all other age groups (p = 0.000 for all comparisons). Other measured parameters did not differ between groups. Serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and TNF-R1 were greater in participants ≥65 than <65 years of age. Healthy older people showed low serum levels of CRP and pro-inflammatory cytokines, but higher than in younger population. Therefore, the adjustment of normal ranges in the elderly should be considered. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines elevated beyond normal ranges indicate particular diseases.
Department of Immunology, Transplantology, and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Aleksandra
A
Wyczalkowska-Tomasik
Department of Clinical Nursing, Medical University of Warsaw, E. Ciolka 27, 01-445, Warsaw, Poland. dom_paczek@o2.pl.
Bozena
B
Czarkowska-Paczek
Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Mechanics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Zielenkiewicz
Department of Immunology, Transplantology, and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Leszek
L
Paczek
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000737:chemistry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007249:Inflammation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; C508603:IL6R protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; C439524:TNF protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
CRP; Cytokines; Healthy aging; Inflammation