Variations in serum transforming growth factor-beta1 levels with gender, age and lifestyle factors of healthy Japanese adults

• Published in: Disease markers 2009, Vol.27 (1), p.23-28
• Main Authors: Lin, Yingsong, Nakachi, Kei, Ito, Yoshinori, Kikuchi, Shogo, Tamakoshi, Akiko, Yagyu, Kiyoko, Watanabe, Yoshiyuki, Inaba, Yutaka, Kazuo Tajima
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Alcohol Drinking; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Cohort Studies; Female; Genotype; Humans; Japan - epidemiology; Life Style; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity - blood; Obesity - epidemiology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Smoking; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - blood
• ISSN: 1875-8630
• DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2009-0643

Elevated serum or plasma Transforming Growth Factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) {levels have been} linked to cancer and other diseases in numerous studies; however, very few studies have reported an association between circulating TGF-beta1 and lifestyle factors in healthy people. We examined the association between serum TGF-beta1 levels and gender, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and drinking in a large population-based cohort study (N =9,142). Serum TGF-beta1 levels were {detected by the Quantikine enzyme-linked immunoassay kit (R&D Systems). The data indicated highly significant (p< ;0.0001) difference in serum TGF-beta1 levels between men (mean value: 37.6 +/- 0.12 ng/mL, N=4888) and women (mean value: 35.1 +/- 0.12 ng/ml, N=4254)}. Serum TGF-beta1 levels decreased with age (trend p< 0.0001) and were positively associated with obesity (trend p< 0.0001) in both men and women. We observed a significant trend with increased serum TGF-beta1 levels corresponding to increased amount of tobacco and alcohol consumption in men (trend p< 0.0001). These findings suggest that serum TGF-beta1 levels appear to be modulated by {gender}, age and lifestyle factors such as obesity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol drinking in healthy Japanese adults.