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Associations of serum total light chain kappa and lambda levels with all-cause mortality in Chinese centenarians
Yuting Duan1,2,3, Zhe Li4, Weiguang Zhang3
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Insights
Serum levels of kappa (κ) and lambda (λ) total light chains (TLC) and their sum (ΣTLC) are linked to mortality in Chinese centenarians. Higher TLCκ, TLCλ, and ΣTLC levels predict a greater risk of death and shorter survival times.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Serum immunoglobulin free light chains, kappa (κ) and lambda (λ) total light chains (TLC), are crucial biomarkers.
- Understanding their role in extreme longevity, such as in centenarians, is vital for aging research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum κ-TLC, λ-TLC, the κ/λ ratio, and combined serum ΣTLC levels and all-cause mortality in Chinese centenarians.
- To determine if these serum markers predict survival in this unique aging population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 906 Chinese centenarians was followed for a median of 30 months.
- Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, Cox proportional hazards models, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess the relationship between serum TLC levels and mortality.
- Serum levels of κ-TLC, λ-TLC, κ/λ ratio, and ΣTLC were measured.
Main Results:
- Elevated levels of κ-TLC, λ-TLC, and ΣTLC were significantly associated with all-cause mortality in centenarians (P < 0.05).
- The highest quartiles of κ-TLC, λ-TLC, and ΣTLC were linked to increased mortality risk (HRs ranging from 1.351 to 1.891).
- Centenarians with higher κ-TLC, λ-TLC, and ΣTLC exhibited significantly shorter median survival times.
Conclusions:
- Serum levels of κ-TLC, λ-TLC, and ΣTLC are significant predictors of all-cause mortality in Chinese centenarians.
- These findings highlight the potential of serum light chain levels as biomarkers for mortality risk in the oldest-old population.
- The κ/λ ratio did not show a significant association with mortality in this cohort.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the serum levels of kappa (κ) and lambda (λ) total light chain (TLC), the κ/λ ratio, and the combined serum TLCκ and TLCλ (ΣTLC) levels in Chinese centenarians and all-cause mortality. The association between serum TLC and all-cause mortality was investigated using restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, Cox proportional hazards models, and Kaplan‒Meier curves. The study included 906 centenarians (18.8% male), 838 (92.5%) of whom died during a median follow-up of 30 months. The proportions of centenarians with abnormal TLCκ and TLCλ levels were 68.1% and 49.0%, respectively. RCS analysis indicated that the levels of TLCκ, TLCλ, and ΣTLC were associated with all-cause mortality (P < 0.05), whereas the κ/λ ratio was not (P > 0.05). Cox proportional hazards analysis demonstrated that the highest quartiles of TLCκ, TLCλ, and ΣTLC were associated with an increased risk of death, with hazard ratios of 1.434 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.061-1.939; P = 0.019), 1.351 (95% CI, 1.013-1.802; P = 0.041), and 1.891 (95% CI, 1.347-2.654; P < 0.001), respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis illustrated that centenarians with higher levels of TLCκ, TLCλ, and ΣTLC had significantly shorter median survival times (26 months versus 35 months, P < 0.001; 26 months versus 32 months, P = 0.003; and 26 months versus 36 months, P < 0.001, respectively). Our findings suggest that serum levels of TLCκ, TLCλ, and ΣTLC are significantly associated with all-cause mortality in centenarians. Trial registration Not applicable.
