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The relation between serum cytokine levels and common laboratory tests in healthy Japanese males

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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Objectives

Cytokines are critical regulatory molecules that circulate in blood at measurable levels. However, the epidemiology of serum cytokine levels in healthy populations is still limited, particularly for Japanese populations. The objective of this study was to examine the relation between serum cytokine levels and common laboratory tests in a healthy Japanese population.

Methods

We studied serum levels of six cytokines (interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)) in a healthy Japanese population using a sensitive chemiluminescence ELISA (CL-ELISA). We examined the relations between serum cytokine levels and common laboratory tests using multiple regression analysis. We were particularly interested in potential relations between serum cytokine levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) in light of its relation to the risk of cardiovascular events. We also investigated the relation between cytokine levels, alcohol consumption and smoking.

Results

After adjusting for the influence of other cytokines and laboratory tests, the serum level of IL-4 was associated with IL-5 and GM-CSF. In addition to IL-4, IL-5 was also associated with IL-10 and IFN-γ. IL-6 was associated with IL-10 and IFN-γ, and IL-10 and IFN-γ were associated with GM-CSF. CRP was significantly negatively associated with serum IL-4 level. IL-6 was weakly correlated with alcohol consumption level in this population. IL-5 among smokers tended to be lower than that among nonsmokers.

Conclusions

Close relations among serum cytokine levels were observed in a healthy population. It is interesting that the level of IL-4, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, was inversely related to CRP level, suggested to be a marker of inflammation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Hikarigaoka I, 960-1295, Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan

    Masashi Tsunoda

  2. Iwate Medical University, Morioka

    Humio Tsunoda (Professor emeritu)

  3. Center for Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, MCP Hahnemann University, USA

    Lucille Guevarra & David J. Tollerud

Authors
  1. Masashi Tsunoda
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  2. Humio Tsunoda
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  3. Lucille Guevarra
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  4. David J. Tollerud
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Correspondence to Masashi Tsunoda.

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Tsunoda, M., Tsunoda, H., Guevarra, L. et al. The relation between serum cytokine levels and common laboratory tests in healthy Japanese males. Environ Health Prev Med 8, 6–12 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02897937

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02897937

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