Age related elevation of serum macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) level

We recently reported that the serum level of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) was elevated in patients with cerebral infarction. In the pr esent study, we measured serum M-CSF level, as well as coagulo-fibrinolytic markers and general laboratory tests in adult healthy subjects of various ages, and investigated the relationship between age and M-CSF level. M-CSF in aged subjects (greater than or equal to 65 years of age) was significant ly higher than that in the younger subjects ( < 65 years of age), and a sig nificant positive correlation between age and M-CSF was found. Significant positive correlations between M-CSF, and plasma levels of thrombomodulin (T M), von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF), thrombin - antithrombin III comple x (TAT), prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2), D-dimer products cross-linked fibrin degradation products (D-dimer) and plasmin-antiplasmin complex (PAP ) were also found. Among the general laboratory tests, there was only a sig nificant correlation between M-CSF and serum creatinine; however, no signif icant correlation was found between M-CSF and other tests including blood c ell counts. From these results, age-related elevation of serum M-CSF level was confirmed, and was suggested not to indicate the alteration of hemopoie tic condition in aged subjects but to be related to thrombotic state or sys temic damaged blood vessel in the apparently healthy aged people. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.