Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by multi system dysregulation. It has been suggested that chronic
inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of
frailty. No study so far has identified accurate, specific and sensitive molecular
biomarkers for
frailty. High-temperature requirement
serine protease A1 (HtrA1) is a secreted multidomain
serine protease implicated in the inhibition of signaling of active
transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)1, a
cytokine which has an important anti-
inflammation role. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of circulating levels of HtrA1 with
frailty in a sample of older adults. The study was performed in 120 older adults aged >65years and admitted to a geriatric outpatient clinic. The
frailty status of participants was assessed by both the Fried's criteria (physical
frailty, PF) and a modified Rockwood's
frailty index (FI). Plasma HtrA1 concentration was measured using commercial ELISA kit.
Frailty was identified in 61/120 participants (50.8%) using PF, and in 60/118 subjects (50.8%) using FI. Plasma levels of HtrA1 were significantly higher in individuals classified as frail according to PF (75.9ng/mL, 95% CI 67.4-85.6) as compared with non-frail participants (48.4ng/mL, 95% CI 42.5-54.6, p<0.001). A significant association was also observed between
frailty, assessed by FI, and HtrA1 levels (72.2ng/mL, 95% CI 63.4-82.3, vs. 50.4ng/mL, 95% CI 44.3-58.0, p<0.001). These associations were confirmed after adjusting for potential confounders. This study demonstrates for the first time the association of plasma levels of HtrA1 with
frailty status. Future investigations are needed to validate the potential value of HtrA1 as possible
biomarker for
frailty.