Abstract

Multifactorial process of aging that depends on various molecular and cellular mechanisms, such as accessibility of protein, maintenance of genome and inflammation. Our aim was to evaluate correlation between interleukin-6 and markers of oxidative stress in geriatric subjects with depression among resident of Western India. Serum samples of 43 geriatric subjects with depression were analyzed using enzyme amplified chemiluminescent immunoassay detection technology and ultra violet spectrophotometer, in order to determine levels of interleukin-6, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and protein carbonyl levels in geriatric subjects with depression. Eleven study cases out of the selected 43 subjects did not show noticeable variations. 32 subjects of the study group showed significant variations in the study parameters. The oxidative stress parameters like malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and protein carbonyl content were also found to be significantly elevated (p>0.001) in study group as shown in the table. Interlukin-6 was also found to be elevated significantly (p>0.001) in the study subjects. The positive and significant relationships were found between serum interlukin-6 and oxidative stress parameters like malondialdehyde (r=0.519, p=0.0001), nitric oxide (r=0.621, p=0.0001) and protein carbonyl (r=0.452, p=0.0001) in our study. The increased levels of interlukin-6 are indicative of advanced age and increased rate of process of aging. The increase in oxidative stress parameters in study group is suggestive of lack of antioxidants rich diet and partly because of enhancement of process of aging by other factors such as environmental and genetic factors.

Key words: Interleukin-6, Malondialdehyde, Nitric oxide, Oxidative stress, Protein carbonyl