Data from: Minimal evidence of inflammaging in naturalistic chimpanzee populations

Objectives: Whereas chronic inflammation is a hallmark of aging in many
human populations, inflammaging is reduced in groups characterized by
frequent physical activity and diets low in processed foods. Since most
biomarkers of inflammation require blood sampling, comparative data from
our closest primate relatives have been derived from sedentary, captive
primate populations, whose processed diets are uncharacteristic of the
wild. Materials and Methods: We evaluated ageing profiles of inflammation
and oxidative stress biomarkers derived from urine and serum samples in
semi-free ranging chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) living in two African
sanctuaries (N=156 health checks, 73 individuals, ages 11-39 years), where
diet and physical activity more closely approximate the wild condition
than captive laboratory settings. We compared these to urinary markers
from wild chimpanzees from Kanyawara, Kibale National Park, Uganda
(N=1,849 time points, 50 individuals, ages 10-57 years), as well as
published serum data from biomedical laboratories. Results: Serum
inflammatory biomarker (CRP and IL6) levels in sanctuary chimpanzees were
2-10 times lower on average than those of laboratory chimpanzees. Compared
to wild populations, acute immune activity (neopterin) and lipid
peroxidation (isoprostanes) were higher in sanctuaries, while chronic
systemic inflammation (suPAR) and DNA damage (OHdG) did not differ. We
detected a significant but modest age-related increase in one biomarker
(suPAR) in the wild sample. Discussion: These results parallel recent
findings from humans in demonstrating that chronic inflammation is not a
natural consequence of aging but may rather be driven by environmental
contexts that are mismatched to the evolutionary history of a given
species.