Monocytes Related Inflammatory Biomarkers are Associated With Frailty Syndrome

Background: Frailty is an age related syndrome that can lead to a higher risk of falls, disability, hospitalization, and mortality. Although the mechanism of the development of frailty remains unclear, chronic low-grade inflammation may explain part of it. Monocytes are one of the key components of innate immune response, and its over excitation may contribute to the development of frailty via chronic low-grade inflammation. Therefore, we investigated the associations between frailty and several monocytes related inflammatory biomarkers. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study conducted in Southwest China. Participants older than 60-year-old were included and sorted into frail, pre-frail, and non-frail groups. Concentrations of MCP-1, MCP-3, MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta and IL-10 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Total enrolled participants were 306. There were 145 (47.4%) non-frail, 146 (47.7%) pre-fail, and 15 (4.9%) frail. Concentrations of MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta were significantly different among frail, pre-frail, and non-frail groups (p = 0.009, p = 0.039 and p = 0.014 respectively). After adjusting for several covariates, elevated concentrations of MCP-1 (>250.91 pg/ml) and MIP-1 beta (>211.41 pg/ml) in frail/pre-frail people remained significant compared with the non-frail (for MCP-1 p = 0.03, OR = 2.502, and for MIP-1 beta p = 0.015, OR = 2.602) while MIP-1 alpha lost its significance. No significant associations were observed in IL-10 and MCP-3. Conclusion: High concentrations of MCP-1 and MIP-1 beta were associated with frailty syndrome. Monocytes related cytokines may contribute to the development of frailty. Copyright (C) 2017, Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency & Critical Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.