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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341079
Title: Metabolites associated with circulating interleukin-6 in older adults

Author
item LUSTGARTEN, MICHAEL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item FIELDING, ROGER - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Journal of Gerontology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2016
Publication Date: 3/14/2016
Citation: Lustgarten, M., Fielding, R.A. 2016. Metabolites associated with circulating interleukin-6 in older adults. Journal of Gerontology. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glw039.

Interpretive Summary: Inflammation is elevated in older adults, but mechanisms are unclear. To develop an improved understanding about mechanisms related to inflammation in older adults, we studied the association between 324 circulating metabolites with the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6.) We identified associations between metabolites related to tryptophan metabolism, infectious burden, activation of host defense, and detoxification with elevated IL-6. However, metabolites related to peroxisomal metabolism and PPAR-alpha activation were associated with decreased IL-6. Accordingly, future studies aimed at targeted intervention of these pathways may be a novel means for reducing inflammation in older adults.

Technical Abstract: Background: Circulating levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are elevated in older adults, but mechanisms are unclear. In the current study, we used an untargeted metabolomic approach to develop an improved understanding about mechanisms related to circulating IL-6 in older adults. Method: Serum IL-6 values were log transformed to normalize its distribution. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression was used to examine the association between 324 serum metabolites with log IL-6. Backward elimination linear regression was used to develop a metabolite predictor set representative of log IL-6. Results: Thirty-six metabolites were significantly associated (p<0.05 and q<0.30) with log IL-6 in 73 older adults (average age, 78 years). Metabolites related to tryptophan metabolism (kynurenine, 3-indoxyl sulfate, indoleacetate, indolepropionate, C-glycosyltryptophan), infectious burden (C-gylcosyltryptophan, N6-carbamoylthreonyladenosine, 1-methylurate, N-formylmethionine, N1-methyladenosine, 3-indoxyl sulfate, bilirubin (E,E), indoleacetate, gamma-CEHC, N-acetylneuraminate), aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A expression (kynurenine, 3-indoxyl sulfate, indoleacetate, N6-carbamoylthreonyladenosine, bilirubin, 1-methylurate) were positively associated, whereas metabolites related to CYP-mediated omega-oxidation (adipate, 8-hydroxyoctanoate, azelate, sebacate, undecanedioate, gamma-CEHC), and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) activation (13 + 9-HODE, bilirubin, 5-oxoproline, cholesterol, glycerate, uridine) were negatively associated with log IL-6. The use of backward elimination regression identified tyrosine, cysteine, uridine, bilirubin, N-formylmethionine, indoleacetate, and 3-indoxyl sulfate to collectively explain 51% of the variance inherent in log IL-6. Conclusions: These data suggest roles for tryptophan metabolism, infectious burden, activation of host defense, and detoxification through CYP1A-mediated pathways in mechanisms related to elevated inflammation, whereas CYP-mediated omega-oxidation and PPAR-alpha activation may be related to decreased inflammation in older adults.