Correlations between serum lipids and complement components in adults without demonstrated atherosclerotic disease
Related Experiment Videos
A Muscari1, C Bozzoli, G M Puddu
1Instituto di Patologia Speciale Medica e Metodologia Clinica, University of Bologna, Italy.
Insights
Serum lipid and complement levels vary by age and sex. Total cholesterol, IgA, and C4 correlate with age, with unique patterns in men and women, potentially linking C4 to atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Age and sex significantly influence physiological parameters.
- Understanding variations in serum proteins and lipids is crucial for health assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age and sex-related variability in serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM), complement (C3, C4), and lipid profiles (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides).
- To explore reciprocal correlations among these serum markers in healthy adults.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of serum samples from 87 healthy subjects (46 men, 41 women, aged 20-75).
- Measurement of serum IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides.
- Statistical analysis including univariate and multivariate correlations with age and sex.
Main Results:
- Serum IgA and C3 were higher in men (41-60 years), while IgM and HDL-C were higher in women (20-40 years).
- Total cholesterol, IgA, and C4 showed significant positive correlations with age, with distinct patterns between sexes.
- A strong correlation network was observed between serum lipids and complement components (TC-C4-C3-TG-TC).
- The correlation between total cholesterol and C4 was age-dependent and sex-specific (men only).
Conclusions:
- Age and sex are significant factors modulating serum immunoglobulin, complement, and lipid levels.
- The identified correlations, particularly between total cholesterol and C4 in men, may offer insights into the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Abstract:
The variability due to age and sex and the reciprocal relations of serum IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4, total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were studied in 87 subjects (46 men and 41 women, aged 20-75 years) selected for the absence of significant atherosclerotic lesions. Serum IgA and C3 were higher in men than in women (P less than 0.05) mainly in the age group 41-60, while IgM and HDL-C were higher in women than in men (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01, respectively), especially in the age group 20-40. Direct univariate correlations with age were found for serum TC (P less than 0.0001), IgA (P less than 0.001), and C4 (P less than 0.01) but the latter correlations was confirmed only in women by multivariate analysis. These 3 variables had the major increment in the age group 41-60 in men, while in women the increase associated with age was more progressive or late. Univariate analysis showed a 'ring' of highly significant correlations (P less than 0.0001) involving serum lipids and complement components (TC-C4-C3-TG-TC). The correlation between TC and C4 was present only in men in multivariate analysis and improved with increasing age. These findings might represent a clue to explain the previously reported association between serum C4 and atherosclerosis.