Open AccessConcurrent and Longitudinal Associations of Sex and Race with Inflammatory Biomarkers during Adolescence
Author(s) -
Naoise Mac Giollabhui,
Lauren B. Alloy,
Dominika Swistun,
Christopher L. Coe,
Lauren M. Ellman,
Daniel P. Moriarity,
Allison Stumper,
Lyn Y. Abramson
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of youth and adolescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.883
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1573-6601
pISSN - 0047-2891
DOI - 10.1007/s10964-020-01369-w
Subject(s) - health psychology , longitudinal study , inflammation , systemic inflammation , tumor necrosis factor alpha , race (biology) , young adult , interleukin 6 , psychology , medicine , developmental psychology , public health , pathology , biology , botany
Chronic, systemic inflammation is implicated in physical and mental health; little is known about whether sex and racial differences detected in adulthood are observed during adolescence or about normative changes occurring during adolescence. This longitudinal, United States-based study examined four biomarkers of systemic inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and IL-8) in 315 adolescents (51% female; 58% black; baseline age = 16.49 years (SD = 1.56; range: 12.14-21.28)] at three timepoints. Notable results included: general decline in inflammatory biomarkers in older adolescents, lower levels of TNF-α/IL-8 in black adolescents, elevated CRP/IL-6 in females, and especially higher levels of IL-6 in black, female adolescents. Implications are discussed, particularly the potential health implications of elevated IL-6 in black females.