Total and Differential White Blood Cell Counts and Their Associations With Circulating Interleukin-6 Levels in Community-Dwelling Older Women
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an inflammatory biomediator, and age-related increases in IL-6 levels are associated with osteoporosis, sarcopenia, disability, and mortality in older adults. Although white blood cells (WBC), or leukocytes, are known to produce IL-6 in vitro, their in vivo relationship with circulating IL-6 levels is not well established. METHODS: In this cross-sectional analysis of data from the Women's Health and Aging Study I, the authors evaluated the relationships of total WBC and WBC differential (neutrophil, monocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, and basophil) counts to circulating IL-6 levels in 619 community-dwelling older women. Potential associations of age, race, and cigarette smoking with total and differential WBC counts and IL-6 levels were also assessed. RESULTS: Except for lymphocyte and basophil counts, significant associations of total WBC, neutrophil, monocyte, and eosinophil counts with IL-6 levels were identified. These associations remained highly significant after adjustment for age, race, and smoking status. Total WBC, neutrophil, monocyte, and eosinophil counts had significant stepwise increases in four escalating quartiles of IL-6 levels. In addition, age, race, and cigarette smoking were differentially associated with total and differential WBC counts and IL-6 levels. CONCLUSIONS: Positive in vivo associations of total WBC and its specific subpopulations were identified, including neutrophils, monocytes, and eosinophils, with circulating IL-6 levels in community-dwelling older women. These findings suggest significant contributions of WBC and its subpopulations to circulating IL-6 levels and potential effects from chronic elevation of IL-6 levels to the function of these circulating immune cells that warrant further investigation.
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Increased number of monocytes, neutrophils, and elevated levels of circulating cytokines have been consistently reported in elderly individuals.
“For example, increased number of monocytes, neutrophils, and elevated levels of circulating cytokines have been consistently reported in elderly individuals (Leng et al, 2005;Roubenoff et al, 1998;Tan et al, 2007).”
From Microglia Priming with Aging and Stress (2017) · cites this paper as Leng et al, 2005
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- Leng S, Chaves P, Koenig K, Walston J. Serum IL-6 and hemoglobin as physiologic correlates in the geriatric syndrome of frailty. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002;50:1268-1271.
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- Authors
- Leng, S., Xue, Q.-L., Huang, Y., Semba, R., Chaves, P., Bandeen-Roche, K., Fried, L., & Walston, J.
- Affiliations
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Leng, S.
- Venue
- The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2005-02-01
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 195-199
- ISSN
- 1079-5006 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-535X
- OpenAlex
- W2120565308
- Cited by
- 86
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 2.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journals of Gerontology Series A (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- John A. Hartford Foundation
- National Institutes of Health (5r37ag019905-10)
- National Institute on Aging (R37-AG19905, N01AG12112)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Inflammatory Biomarkers in Disease Prognosis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
- Keywords
- interleukin-6, white blood cell count, differential leukocyte count, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, older women, inflammation, cigarette smoking, race, aging, Women's Health and Aging Study
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Eosinophils, Female, Humans, Leukocyte Count, Monocytes, Neutrophils, Smoking, Interleukin-6, Lymphocyte Count, Racial Groups
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