Determinants of serum cytokines in a population sample of healthy subjects from Iran

Seyed Reza Mirhafez; Ahmadreza Zarifian; Ali Movahedi; Gordon A Ferns; Thozhukat Sathyapalan; Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan; Amirhossein Sahebkar

doi:10.5114/amsad/171708

Determinants of serum cytokines in a population sample of healthy subjects from Iran

Arch Med Sci Atheroscler Dis. 2023 Sep 30:8:e89-e95. doi: 10.5114/amsad/171708. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Seyed Reza Mirhafez¹, Ahmadreza Zarifian², Ali Movahedi³, Gordon A Ferns⁴, Thozhukat Sathyapalan⁵, Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan⁶, Amirhossein Sahebkar^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
² Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
³ Department of Anesthesia and Operating Room Nursing, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
⁴ Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Division of Medical Education, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex BN1 9PH, UK.
⁵ Academic Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, UK.
⁶ Biochemistry of Nutrition Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁷ Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁸ Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Cytokines are synthesized and released by immune system cells and mediate critical immune responses. Aging is associated with increased serum levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines. A positive correlation between the concentration of several cytokines and blood pressure has been reported; higher cytokine concentrations may be related to the underlying causes of hypertension through the effects of inflammatory responses or as an independent aetiology for hypertension. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, with biochemical and anthropometric characteristics, in healthy Iranian subjects.

Material and methods: Anthropometric measurements and blood sampling were performed in 103 healthy Iranian participants. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and lipid profile were measured in these participants. Twelve serum cytokines/growth factors (MCP-1, TNF-α, EGF, IFN-γ, VEGF, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) were measured by cytokine biochip array.

Results: FBG was positively associated with serum interleukin (IL) 2 (IL-2), IL-4, and IL-1α (p = 0.044, < 0.001, and = 0.017, respectively). Serum epithelial growth factor and IL-4 were positively associated with age (p < 0.001). Interleukin-8 was inversely associated with systolic blood pressure (p = 0.002) and gender (p = 0.028). There was a positive association between vascular endothelial growth factor and high-density lipoprotein (p = 0.007). The serum levels of interferon-γ and tumour necrosis factor-α were positively associated with serum triglycerides (p = 0.018 and 0.006, respectively). Serum interferon-γ and IL-1β levels were positively associated with hip circumference (p = 0.029 and 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions: There are associations between various pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in serum and age, sex, hip circumference and several biochemical measurements.

Keywords: Iranian subjects; anthropometric factors; cytokines; growth factors; inflammation; interleukins.