Endogenous Secretory Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products Is Associated With Low Serum Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist and Elevated IL-6 in Older Community-Dwelling Adults

Abstract

Background.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are thought to cause inflammation through interaction with the receptor for AGEs (RAGE), therefore contributing to adverse aging-related processes. The relationship between AGEs, RAGE, and inflammation has not been well characterized.

Methods.

We examined the relationship of plasma endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE); carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), a circulating AGE; and inflammatory mediators in 1,298 adults, 20–97 years, who participated in the InCHIANTI study in Tuscany, Italy. Blood levels of esRAGE, CML, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), IL-18, C-reactive protein (CRP), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and fibrinogen were measured.

Results.

Log plasma esRAGE was associated with log IL-1RA (β = −0.069, SE = 0.036, p = .05) and log IL-6 (β = 0.077, SE = 0.035, p = .03), respectively, in separate multivariable linear regression models, adjusting for potential confounders. Log plasma esRAGE was also negatively associated with log TGF-β but did not reach statistical significance (β = −0.091, SE = 0.053, p = .09). Log plasma esRAGE was not significantly associated with log IL-1β, log TNF-α, IL-6R, log IL-18, or CRP. Log plasma CML was not associated with any of the inflammatory mediators except for IL-6R (β = −14.10, SE = 5.94, p = .02) and fibrinogen (β = 13.95, SE = 7.21, p = .05) in separate multivariable models, adjusting for potential confounders.

Conclusions.

Plasma esRAGE is correlated with higher IL-6 and lower IL-1RA. These findings suggest that plasma esRAGE plays a role in modulating inflammation, although the exact mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Advanced glycation end products, C-reactive protein, Endogenous secretory receptor for advanced glycation end products, Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, Interleukin-6