Ageing, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and atherosclerosis

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology Vol. 121; no. 2; pp. 255 - 260
• Main Authors: Bruunsgaard, H., Skinhøj, P., Pedersen, A. N., Schroll, M., Pedersen, B. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.08.2000; Oxford University Press; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; ageing; Aging - metabolism; Arteriosclerosis - epidemiology; Arteriosclerosis - etiology; Arteritis - blood; atherosclerosis; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Cardiovascular Immunology; Cholesterol - blood; Cohort Studies; Disease Susceptibility; Female; Humans; inflammation; Leukocyte Count; Male; Triglycerides - blood; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - analysis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; tumour necrosis factor‐alpha
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2000.01281.x

Ageing is associated with increased inflammatory activity in the blood. The purpose of this study was to investigate if age‐related increased plasma levels of TNF‐α were associated with atherosclerosis in a cohort of 130 humans aged 81 years. The elderly cohort had increased circulating levels of TNF‐α, C‐reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoproteins (LDL) and a low high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)/TC ratio compared with a young control group (n = 44). The elderly cohort was divided by tertiles into three subgroups with low, intermediate, and high levels of TNF‐α, respectively. In the group with high TNF‐α concentrations a significantly larger proportion had clinical diagnoses of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, weak correlations were found between TNF‐α on one hand and blood concentrations of triglycerides, leucocytes, CRP and a low HDL/TC ratio on the other which are known as risk factors of atherogenesis and thromboembolic complications. No correlations were found between TNF‐α, TC, LDL, or the body mass index. In conclusion, the present study shows that in a cohort of 81‐year‐old humans, high levels of TNF‐α in the blood were associated with a high prevalence of atherosclerosis.