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.

慢性全身性炎症与身心健康有关；关于是否在青春期观察到在成年期发现的性别和种族差异或在青春期发生的规范变化知之甚少。这项基于美国的纵向研究在 315青少年（51% 女性；58% 黑人；基线年龄 = 16.49 岁（SD = 1.56; 范围：12.14–21.28)] 在三个时间点。值得注意的结果包括：年龄较大的青少年炎症生物标志物普遍下降，黑人青少年的 TNF-α/IL-8 水平较低，女性的 CRP/IL-6 升高，尤其是黑人女性青少年的 IL-6 水平较高。讨论了影响，特别是黑人女性中 IL-6 升高的潜在健康影响。