Age-Associated Increasing of MCP-1 in Adults

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) playa key role in development of atherosclerosis. To take into account the atherogenic properties of MCP-1 and IL-8 and its influence on insulin resistance, we examined circulating levels of MCP-1 and IL-8 in adults. We recruited 292 subjects (84 males and 208 females) aged between 29 and 79 years. MCP-1 and IL-8 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Age, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels were significantly higher in female subjects (P<0.01, respectively), but diastolic blood pressure (BP) was significantly lower in female subjects compared to male subjects. MCP-1 and IL-8 levels were tended to increase with age, the highest in their seventies. MCP-1 (P=0.05) and IL-8 (P<0.01) levels were higher in males than in females. MCP-1 was positively correlated with age (r=0.17, P<0.05), IL-8 (r=0.26, P<0.01), fasting insulin (r=0.30, P<0.01), and HOMA-IR (r=0.29, P<0.01). In linear regression analysis, age was found to be independent factor associated with MCP-1 adjusted by age, BMI, fasting glucose, triglyceride, and systolic BP. In conclusion, age was found to be independent factor associated with MCP-1. It is possible that an increase of MCP-1 in adults with age may be risk to atherosclerosis and diabetic properties.