HPA-axis and inflammatory reactivity to acute stress is related with basal HPA-axis activity.
- Chen X Department of Psychology and Volen National Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, United States.
- Gianferante D Department of Psychology and Volen National Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, United States.
- Hanlin L Department of Psychology and Volen National Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, United States.
- Fiksdal A Department of Psychology and Volen National Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, United States.
- Breines JG Department of Psychology and Volen National Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, United States.
- Thoma MV Department of Psychology and Volen National Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, United States; Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Rohleder N Department of Psychology and Volen National Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, United States; Chair of Health Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. Electronic address: nicolas.rohleder@fau.de.
- 2017-02-18
Published in:
- Psychoneuroendocrinology. - 2017
Adolescent
Adult
Biomarkers
Female
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
Inflammation
Interleukin-6
Male
Middle Aged
Pituitary-Adrenal System
Saliva
Stress, Psychological
Wakefulness
Young Adult
English
INTRODUCTION
Inflammation is drawing attention as pathway between psychosocial stress and health, and basal HPA axis activity has been suggested to exert a consistent regulatory influence on peripheral inflammation. Here we studied the relationship between basal HPA axis activity and inflammatory and HPA axis acute stress reactivity.
METHODS
We recruited 48 healthy individuals and collected saliva for diurnal cortisol sampling at 6 points. Participants were previously exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) on two consecutive days. Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and salivary cortisol reactivity to acute stress were measured, and their relationships with basal HPA axis activity were analyzed.
RESULTS
Steeper cortisol awakening response (CAR) linear increase was related with stronger cortisol stress reactivity (γ=0.015; p=0.042) and marginally significantly with greater habituation (γ=0.01; p=0.066). Greater curvilinearity of CAR was related with stronger cortisol reactivity (γ=-0.014; p=0.021) and greater cortisol habituation (γ=-0.011; p=0.006). Steeper daily linear decline was related with significant or marginally significantly stronger cortisol and IL-6 reactivity (cortisol: γ=-0.0004; p=0.06; IL-6: γ=-0.028; p=0.031) and greater habituation (cortisol: γ=-0.002; p=0.009, IL-6: γ=-0.015; p=0.033). Greater curvilinearity of daily decline was related with stronger IL-6 reactivity (γ=0.002; p=0.024) and also greater cortisol and IL-6 habituation (cortisol: γ=0.00009; p=0.03, IL-6: γ=0.001; p=0.024).
CONCLUSIONS
Patterns of basal HPA axis activity that are related with healthier outcomes were found to be related with stronger initial cortisol and IL-6 reactivity and greater habituation. This is an important step in understanding the long-term health implications of acute stress responsiveness, and future studies should employ longitudinal designs to identify the direction of these relationships.
Inflammation is drawing attention as pathway between psychosocial stress and health, and basal HPA axis activity has been suggested to exert a consistent regulatory influence on peripheral inflammation. Here we studied the relationship between basal HPA axis activity and inflammatory and HPA axis acute stress reactivity.
METHODS
We recruited 48 healthy individuals and collected saliva for diurnal cortisol sampling at 6 points. Participants were previously exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) on two consecutive days. Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and salivary cortisol reactivity to acute stress were measured, and their relationships with basal HPA axis activity were analyzed.
RESULTS
Steeper cortisol awakening response (CAR) linear increase was related with stronger cortisol stress reactivity (γ=0.015; p=0.042) and marginally significantly with greater habituation (γ=0.01; p=0.066). Greater curvilinearity of CAR was related with stronger cortisol reactivity (γ=-0.014; p=0.021) and greater cortisol habituation (γ=-0.011; p=0.006). Steeper daily linear decline was related with significant or marginally significantly stronger cortisol and IL-6 reactivity (cortisol: γ=-0.0004; p=0.06; IL-6: γ=-0.028; p=0.031) and greater habituation (cortisol: γ=-0.002; p=0.009, IL-6: γ=-0.015; p=0.033). Greater curvilinearity of daily decline was related with stronger IL-6 reactivity (γ=0.002; p=0.024) and also greater cortisol and IL-6 habituation (cortisol: γ=0.00009; p=0.03, IL-6: γ=0.001; p=0.024).
CONCLUSIONS
Patterns of basal HPA axis activity that are related with healthier outcomes were found to be related with stronger initial cortisol and IL-6 reactivity and greater habituation. This is an important step in understanding the long-term health implications of acute stress responsiveness, and future studies should employ longitudinal designs to identify the direction of these relationships.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- bronze
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.01.035
- PMID 28209543
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/94739
Statistics
Document views: 72
File downloads:
- Full-text: 0