Table 3.
Cytokine production by LPS-stimulated PBMCs according to age group
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Difference by group P < 0.05 | P for interaction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22–31 years | 32–41 years | 42–51 years | 52–63 years | |||
| Nonstimulated PBMCs | ||||||
| LPS dose (0 ng/mL) | ||||||
| IL-6 (pg/mL)a | 483.4 ± 232.6 | 365.3 ± 141.8 | 879.8 ± 430.4 | 1,516.4 ± 952.9 | 1, 2 vs. 4 | 0.090 |
| TNF-α (pg/mL)a | 13.8 ± 7.27 | 209.7 ± 183.7 | 334.2 ± 132.4 | 721.4 ± 304.5 | 1 vs. 3, 4/2 vs. 4 | 0.011 |
| IL-1ß (pg/mL)a | 13.0 ± 8.78 | 13.3 ± 5.67 | 67.2 ± 28.8 | 112.6 ± 48.1 | 1 vs. 3, 4/2 vs. 4 | <0.001 |
| LPS-stimulated PBMCs | ||||||
| LPS dose (5 ng/mL) | ||||||
| IL-6 (pg/mL)a | 2,308.6 ± 527.2 | 2,100.7 ± 353.1 | 2,333.8 ± 575.5 | 3,502.9 ± 1,015.0 | NS | 0.068 |
| TNF-α (pg/mL)a | 242.9 ± 52.4 | 530.1 ± 326.5 | 660.7 ± 163.8 | 994.0 ± 247.9 | NS | 0.589 |
| IL-1ß (pg/mL)a | 26.8 ± 8.08 | 36.7 ± 20.7 | 171.6 ± 64.9 | 173.4 ± 55.7 | 1, 2 vs. 3, 4 | 0.002 |
| LPS dose (10 ng/mL) | ||||||
| IL-6 (pg/mL)a | 2,994.6 ± 705.6 | 2,338.1 ± 394.9 | 3,648.7 ± 893.7 | 3,102.7 ± 725.7 | NS | 0.123 |
| TNF-α (pg/mL)a | 323.9 ± 96.1 | 638.1 ± 378.7 | 1,202.1 ± 393.0 | 1,356.6 ± 306.8 | NS | 0.287 |
| IL-1ß (pg/mL)a | 28.9 ± 16.5 | 28.9 ± 10.9 | 451.1 ± 303.0 | 251.6 ± 99.2 | 1, 2 vs. 3, 4 | 0.002 |
Data are mean ± SE
aTested by log-transformed. Tested by one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni method
P for interaction: p values for the interaction terms between age and menopause were obtained in the multivariate interaction test in a regression model