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. 1999 Nov;118(2):235-41.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1999.01045.x.

Impaired production of proinflammatory cytokines in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in elderly humans

H Bruunsgaard  1 , A N Pedersen, M Schroll, P Skinhoj, B K Pedersen
Affiliations

Impaired production of proinflammatory cytokines in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in elderly humans

H Bruunsgaard et al. Clin Exp Immunol. 1999 Nov.

Abstract

Ageing is associated with decreased resistance to bacterial infections and concomitant increased circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines. The purpose of the present study was to research age-related changes in levels of early mediators of the acute-phase response in whole blood supernatants following LPS stimulation, representing an ex vivo model of sepsis. Levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1beta and IL-6 in whole blood supernatants were measured after in vitro LPS stimulation for 24 h in 168 elderly humans aged 81 years from the 1914 cohort in Glostrup, Denmark and in 91 young controls aged 19-31 years. Levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were significantly lower in elderly humans compared with young controls, whereas no difference was detected with regard to IL-6. Elderly humans with low body mass index had the lowest levels of IL-1beta. Young women had lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines compared with young men, but this difference was blurred by ageing. No relation was found between circulating plasma levels of TNF-alpha and levels after in vitro LPS stimulation. In conclusion, decreased production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta after exposure to LPS may reflect impaired host defence against infections in the elderly and be of importance in elderly humans with underlying health disorders. However, the clinical relevance is questionable in healthy elderly people because decreased levels were found compared with young men but not compared with young women.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Levels of proinflammatory cytokines in whole blood supernatants following LPS stimulation and blood concentrations of monocytes in young and elderly humans. Whole blood (diluted 1:4) was stimulated with LPS in vitro for 24 h. Total: men and women are pooled; young women, n = 45; young men, n = 46; elderly women, n = 84; elderly men, n = 84. Medians and quartiles are shown. *Significant different (P < 0.05) from young controls (total); †significant different (P < 0.05) from young men; ‡significant different (P < 0.05) from elderly females.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Atherosclerosis and proinflammatory cytokines in 81-year-old humans. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines in whole blood after LPS stimulation for 24 h. □, Clinical diagnosis of atherosclerosis, n = 45; ▪, no clinical diagnosis of atherosclerosis, n = 123. Ankle-brachial blood pressure index: < 0.9 (□) is indicative of peripheral atherosclerosis, n = 70; ≥ 0.9 (▪), n = 97. Medians and quartiles are shown.
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References

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