背景:与淋巴发生有关的分泌因子,如血管内皮生长因子C(VEGF-C),血管生成素样蛋白4(ANGPTL4),和激活素A(ACV-A),已被认为是慢性炎症状态和年龄相关疾病的潜在标志物。此外,这些因素也可能与虚弱有关。这项研究的主要目的是检查血清VEGF-C,年轻人的ANGPTL4和ACV-A水平,健康的老年人,和年龄较大的人,并确定它们与促炎因子水平的关系。
方法:我们进行了一项观察性研究,共招募210名老年人和20名年轻健康志愿者。根据Freid脆弱表型将参与者分为四组:健康年轻组,没有虚弱的老年患者组,虚弱的老年群体,和脆弱的老年群体。从所有四组收集血浆和外周血单核细胞(PBMC)。ELISA法检测血清VEGF-C水平,ANGPTL4,ACV-A,和促炎细胞因子,而RT-qPCR用于测量VEGF-C的转录水平,PBMC中的ANGPTL4和ACV-A。
结果:与健康的年轻人和没有虚弱的老年参与者相比,虚弱的老年参与者表现出更低的肾功能,较高的血清水平和VEGF-C的转录水平,ANGPTL4,ACV-A,和促炎细胞因子水平升高(CRP,IL-1β,和TNF-α)。多元线性回归分析显示血清VEGF-C、ANGPTL4、ACV-A与衰弱指数呈正相关,独立于年龄,eGFR,和合并症。此外,受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析显示血清VEGF-C,ANGPTL4和ACV-A在预测虚弱方面具有很高的准确性。
结论:血清VEGF-C水平升高,ANGPTL4和ACV-A与脆弱状态相关联。
Secretory factors linked to lymphogenesis, such as vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), angiopoietin like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), and activin A (ACV-A), have been recognized as potential markers of chronic inflammatory status and age-related diseases. Furthermore, these factors may also be linked to frailty. The primary objective of this study was to examine the serum VEGF-C, ANGPTL4, and ACV-A levels in young individuals, healthy older individuals, and older individuals with pre-frailty and frailty, and to determine their association with pro-inflammatory factor levels.
We conducted an observational study, enrolling a total of 210 older individuals and 20 young healthy volunteers. Participants were divided into four groups based on the Freid frailty phenotype: healthy young group, older patients without frailty group, pre-frail older group, and frail older group. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from all four groups. ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of VEGF-C, ANGPTL4, ACV-A, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, while RT-qPCR was used to measure the transcription level of VEGF-C, ANGPTL4 and ACV-A in PBMCs.
In comparison to healthy young individuals and older participants without frailty, older participants with frailty exhibited lower renal function, higher serum levels and transcription levels of VEGF-C, ANGPTL4, ACV-A, and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (CRP, IL-1β, and TNF-α). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that serum levels of VEGF-C, ANGPTL4, and ACV-A were positively correlated with the frailty index, independent of age, eGFR, and comorbidities. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that serum levels of VEGF-C, ANGPTL4, and ACV-A have great accuracy in predicting frailty.
Elevated serum levels of VEGF-C, ANGPTL4, and ACV-A are associated with frailty status.