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Winful T, Sorunke M, Benn Torres J. Exploring the Relationship Between Stress, Salivary C-Reactive Protein, and Embodied Physiological Responses in a Nigerian Population. Am J Hum Biol 2024:e24158. [PMID: 39318111 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The impacts of stress on inflammation, although hypothesized, have not been thoroughly examined, especially in relation to social and environmental factors and particularly within Black populations. This study aims to explore the biological mechanisms of embodiment linking stress and health to understand physiological changes in the body's response to psychological stress in a Nigerian population. Through a multidisciplinary approach, this study queries the relationship between stress, cortisol, and salivary C-reactive protein (sCRP), a biomarker of inflammation, while also validating the use of sCRP as a potential and accurate stress indicator in the field. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 138 passive drool saliva samples (nfemale = 89 nmale = 49) were collected and assessed for sCRP and cortisol levels in adults. Participants also completed a short demographic survey and, to measure psychological stress, the General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12). Relationships between sCRP and stress-related variables (i.e., cortisol, GHQ-12, and demographic data) were assessed using Spearman's correlations, simple regression, multivariable linear regression, and exploratory factor analysis. RESULTS sCRP levels ranged from 20.57 to 6879.41 pg/mL across all samples, with significant differences between female and male participants. The GHQ-12 was not a significant predictor of sCRP variability. However, socio-demographic factors such as body mass index (BMI), age, self-reported sex, ethnic identity, and cortisol were significant predictors, collectively explaining 24%-27% of the variation in sCRP. CONCLUSION Socio-demographic predictors like BMI, age, sex, and particularly ethnic group experience in Nigeria encapsulate aspects of embodied stress, that significantly affect sCRP variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiye Winful
- Department of Anthropology, Genetic Anthropology and Biocultural Studies Laboratory, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Modupe Sorunke
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Jada Benn Torres
- Department of Anthropology, Genetic Anthropology and Biocultural Studies Laboratory, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Chowdhury RN, Armato A, Culver E, Shteynman L, Kurien C, Cradin B, Margolin F, Nguyen T, Cardona C, Kabir N, Garruto RM, Lum JK, Wander K. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of stability for 16 serum immunoregulators over 50 freeze-thaw cycles. Am J Hum Biol 2024:e24087. [PMID: 38682460 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the reliability of data from the assay of bio-archived specimens, a 50-freeze-thaw-cycle (FTC) degradation study of fresh sera was conducted to test the stability of 16 immunoregulators. METHODS Twenty de-identified serum specimens were obtained from volunteers at United Health Services-Wilson Memorial Hospital. Specimens were stored at -20°C and underwent daily 1 h thawing and subsequent freezing for each FTC over 50 consecutive days. Immunoregulator concentrations were assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in participant samples at 2 FTC (baseline), 25 FTC, and 50 FTC. Specific immunoregulators observed in the study were C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-1α, 4, 6, 8, 10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, CCL2), monocyte chemoattractant protein-2 (MCP-2, CCL8), eotaxin-1, thymus-and-activation-regulated chemokine (TARC, CCL17), regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES, CCL5), growth-regulated oncogene-alpha (GRO-α, CXCL1), small inducible cytokine A1 (I-309, CCL1), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interferon-gamma inducible protein-10 (IP-10, CXCL10), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). RESULTS Quantitative stability of serum immunoregulators: Serum CRP, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ, IP-10, and eotaxin-1 levels appear to be statistically equivalent from baseline to 50 FTC (p ≤ .05). Retention of patterns in serum immunoregulators: patterns across FTC were retained for TARC (age) and CRP, IFN-γ, and MCP-2 (sex). CONCLUSIONS While the effect of multiple FTC on serum immunoregulator levels may not replicate prolonged freezer storage, the results of this study provide valuable information on the robustness of immunoregulators for research using bio-archived sera.
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Affiliation(s)
- R N Chowdhury
- Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
- Department of Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - A Armato
- United Health Services Wilson Memorial Hospital, Johnson City, New York, USA
| | - E Culver
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - L Shteynman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
- Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - C Kurien
- Department of Integrative Neuroscience, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Long Island, New York, USA
| | - B Cradin
- Department of Integrative Neuroscience, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - F Margolin
- Department of Integrative Neuroscience, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - T Nguyen
- Department of Integrative Neuroscience, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - C Cardona
- Department of Integrative Neuroscience, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - N Kabir
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Elmira, New York, USA
| | - R M Garruto
- Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - J K Lum
- Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - K Wander
- Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
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Santos FSD, Oliveira IOD, Mintem GC, Horta BL, Gigante DP. Epidemiology of interleukin-6: the 30-year follow-up of the 1982 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study. Ann Hum Biol 2022; 48:525-533. [PMID: 35105198 DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2021.1998619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death globally. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a biomarker of cardiovascular risk. AIM To investigate factors associated with IL-6 concentration in serum, from early life up to 30 years of age. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In the 2012-2013 follow-up, IL-6 was measured in 2809 participants of the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort (1369 males). Multivariable linear regressions, stratified by sex, were performed to evaluate the associations of African ancestry, family income and maternal education at birth, monthly income and education at 30 years, smoking status, harmful alcohol intake, physical activity, and body composition with IL-6, considering a conceptual hierarchical framework. RESULTS Males with low educational levels and current smokers had the highest mean IL-6. Among females, African ancestry and low monthly income were associated with the highest mean values for the outcome. Physical activity had an inverse association with IL-6 concentration among females. A direct relationship was observed between the measures of adiposity on IL-6, in both sexes. CONCLUSION Body composition was the main predictor for the outcome evaluated in males and females. Thus, the avoidance of overweight remains an important strategy for the prevention and control of cardiovascular risk and biomarkers associated with these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gicele Costa Mintem
- Post-graduate Program in Nutrition and Food, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Lessa Horta
- Post-graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Denise Petrucci Gigante
- Post-graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.,Post-graduate Program in Nutrition and Food, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
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Griffin JS, Dent SC, Berger SM. Pathways linking activity, adiposity, and inflammation to bone mineral density in women and men from NHANES 2007 to 2010. Am J Hum Biol 2021; 33:e23583. [PMID: 33645876 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Age, sedentary activity, central adiposity, and inflammation have all been independently associated with bone mineral density (BMD). We assessed how the effects of sedentary activity and central adiposity on BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck change across early to late adulthood and whether these relationships are mediated by inflammation. METHODS We analyzed data from 7135 women and men 20 years of age and older from NHANES 2007 to 2010. Anthropometrics, sedentary activity (min/day), serum CRP (mg/dl), and BMD (gm/cm2 measured by DXA scans) at the femoral neck and lumbar spine. Data were compared by age and sex groups and through causal mediation analysis. RESULTS The effect of waist circumference on BMD was significantly mediated by serum CRP at both skeletal sites in men and at the femoral neck in women. Sedentary activity did not have a direct relationship to BMD but was mediated by waist circumference in men. Least square means differed significantly by sex and age groups with a general age-related decline in BMD at both skeletal sites. CONCLUSIONS We found that central adiposity, independent of overall body size and composition as measured through BMI, has an inverse relationship with BMD that is mediated by serum CRP. In addition, the negative impact of increased sedentism acted through changes in central adiposity (waist circumference) but only in men. Although low bone density and osteoporosis are often considered degenerative diseases that primarily impact postmenopausal women, our findings show that sedentary activity and central adiposity impact bone density beginning in early adulthood in both women and men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob S Griffin
- Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sophia C Dent
- Department of Anthropology, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA
| | - Steph M Berger
- Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Miller EM. Ecological immunity of human milk: Life history perspectives from the United States and Kenya. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 167:389-399. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Social and physical environments early in development predict DNA methylation of inflammatory genes in young adulthood. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:7611-7616. [PMID: 28673994 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1620661114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammation contributes to a wide range of human diseases, and environments in infancy and childhood are important determinants of inflammatory phenotypes. The underlying biological mechanisms connecting early environments with the regulation of inflammation in adulthood are not known, but epigenetic processes are plausible candidates. We tested the hypothesis that patterns of DNA methylation (DNAm) in inflammatory genes in young adulthood would be predicted by early life nutritional, microbial, and psychosocial exposures previously associated with levels of inflammation. Data come from a population-based longitudinal birth cohort study in metropolitan Cebu, the Philippines, and DNAm was characterized in whole blood samples from 494 participants (age 20-22 y). Analyses focused on probes in 114 target genes involved in the regulation of inflammation, and we identified 10 sites across nine genes where the level of DNAm was significantly predicted by the following variables: household socioeconomic status in childhood, extended absence of a parent in childhood, exposure to animal feces in infancy, birth in the dry season, or duration of exclusive breastfeeding. To evaluate the biological significance of these sites, we tested for associations with a panel of inflammatory biomarkers measured in plasma obtained at the same age as DNAm assessment. Three sites predicted elevated inflammation, and one site predicted lower inflammation, consistent with the interpretation that levels of DNAm at these sites are functionally relevant. This pattern of results points toward DNAm as a potentially important biological mechanism through which developmental environments shape inflammatory phenotypes across the life course.
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Cheslack-Postava K, Cremers S, Bao Y, Shen L, Schaefer CA, Brown AS. Maternal serum cytokine levels and risk of bipolar disorder. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 63:108-114. [PMID: 27477922 PMCID: PMC5276795 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.07.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 07/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to influenza has previously been associated with increased risk of bipolar disorder (BD), an association that may be mediated by maternal cytokines. The objective of this study was to determine the association between maternal levels of cytokines measured during each trimester of pregnancy and the risk of BD in offspring. We conducted a case-control study nested in the Child Health and Development Study, a birth cohort that enrolled pregnant women in 1959-1966. Potential cases with DSM-IV-TR bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, BD not otherwise specified, and BD with psychotic features were ascertained through electronic medical records, a public agency database, and a mailing to the cohort. Diagnoses were confirmed by clinical interview. Nine cytokines (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α and GM-CSF) were measured simultaneously by Luminex assays in archived prenatal maternal serum samples from 85 cases and 170 matched controls. Data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression. In the overall study sample, there were no significant associations between prenatal maternal cytokine levels and BD after adjustment for confounders. The risk of BD without psychotic features was decreased among subjects with higher maternal levels of first trimester log-transformed IL-4 (OR (95% CI)=0.76 (0.58, 0.98); p=0.04) and third trimester log-transformed IL-6 (OR (95% CI)=0.64 (0.42, 0.98); p=0.04). In conclusion, higher levels of prenatal maternal cytokines were not associated with increased risk for BD. Further studies with larger samples are necessary to confirm the finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keely Cheslack-Postava
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, United States.
| | - Serge Cremers
- Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Yuanyuan Bao
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, United States
| | - Ling Shen
- KPNC Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA, United States
| | | | - Alan S. Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, United States,Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, United States
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Scorza CA, Marques MJG, Gomes da Silva S, Naffah-Mazzacoratti MDG, Scorza FA, Cavalheiro EA. Status epilepticus does not induce acute brain inflammatory response in the Amazon rodent Proechimys, an animal model resistant to epileptogenesis. Neurosci Lett 2017; 668:169-173. [PMID: 28235602 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.02.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy is a serious brain disorder in adults that is often preceded by an initial brain insult, such as status epilepticus (SE), that after a latent period leads to recurrent seizures. Post-SE models are widely used for studies on epileptogenic processes. Previous findings of our laboratory suggested that the Neotropical rodents Proechimys exhibit endogenous antiepileptogenic mechanisms in post-SE models. Strong body of research supports that SE triggers a rapid and dramatic upregulation of inflammatory mediators and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this work we found that, in the epilepsy-resistant Proechimys, hippocampal and cortical levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α) and VEGF remained unchanged 24h after SE, strongly contrasting to the high levels of post-SE changes observed in Wistar rats. Furthermore, substantial differences in the brain baseline levels of these proteins were encountered between animal species studied. Since inflammatory cytokines and VEGF have been recognized as major orchestrators of the epileptogenic process, our results suggest their role in the antiepileptogenic mechanisms previously described in Proechimys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla A Scorza
- Disciplina de Neurociência, Escola Paulista de Medicina/Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Marcia J G Marques
- Disciplina de Neurociência, Escola Paulista de Medicina/Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Gomes da Silva
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Núcleo de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil.
| | | | - Fulvio A Scorza
- Disciplina de Neurociência, Escola Paulista de Medicina/Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Esper A Cavalheiro
- Disciplina de Neurociência, Escola Paulista de Medicina/Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
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Bethancourt HJ, Kratz M, Beresford SAA, Hayes MG, Kuzawa CW, Duazo PL, Borja JB, Eisenberg DTA. No association between blood telomere length and longitudinally assessed diet or adiposity in a young adult Filipino population. Eur J Nutr 2015; 56:295-308. [PMID: 26497538 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-015-1080-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Telomeres, DNA-protein structures that cap and protect chromosomes, are thought to shorten more rapidly when exposed to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Diet and nutritional status may be a source of inflammation and oxidative stress. However, relationships between telomere length (TL) and diet or adiposity have primarily been studied cross-sectionally among older, overweight/obese populations and yielded inconsistent results. Little is known about the relationship between diet or body composition and TL among younger, low- to normal-weight populations. It also remains unclear how cumulative exposure to a specific diet or body composition during the years of growth and development, when telomere attrition is most rapid, may be related to TL in adulthood. METHODS In a sample of 1459 young adult Filipinos, we assessed the relationship between blood TL at ages 20.8-22.5 and measures of BMI z-score, waist circumference, and diet collected between the ages of 8.5 and 22.5. TL was measured using monochrome multiplex quantitative PCR, and diet was measured using multiple 24-h recalls. RESULTS We found no associations between blood TL and any of the measures of adiposity or between blood TL and the seven dietary factors examined: processed meats, fried/grilled meats and fish, non-fried fish, coconut oil, fruits and vegetables, bread and bread products, and sugar-sweetened beverages. CONCLUSIONS Considering the inconsistencies in the literature and our null results, small differences in body composition and consumption of any single pro- or anti-inflammatory dietary component may not by themselves have a meaningful impact on telomere integrity, or the impact may differ across distinct ecological circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary J Bethancourt
- Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Mario Kratz
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shirley A A Beresford
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - M Geoffrey Hayes
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christopher W Kuzawa
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Paulita L Duazo
- Office of Population Studies Foundation, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines
| | - Judith B Borja
- Office of Population Studies Foundation, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines
| | - Daniel T A Eisenberg
- Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Clancy KBH, Klein LD, Ziomkiewicz A, Nenko I, Jasienska G, Bribiescas RG. Relationships between biomarkers of inflammation, ovarian steroids, and age at menarche in a rural Polish sample. Am J Hum Biol 2013; 25:389-98. [PMID: 23606228 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2012] [Revised: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that life history trade-offs between maintenance and reproductive effort would be evident through inverse associations between levels of a biomarker of inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP)], and ovarian hormones. Associations between CRP and age at menarche were also explored. METHODS Urinary CRP, salivary progesterone, and estradiol were measured over one menstrual cycle from rural Polish women (n = 25), representing a natural fertility sample. Age of menarche was assessed through interview recall methods. We used minimum second-order Akaike Information Criteria as a means of multiple regression model selection, and repeated measures ANOVA to test cycle-dependent hypotheses. RESULTS Comparisons of individuals in high and low CRP tertiles revealed that those with high CRP had significantly lower progesterone (luteal P = 0.03, mid luteal P = 0.007) but not estradiol (follicular P = 0.21, luteal P = 0.15) concentrations through the menstrual cycle. However, when the age at menarche was included in the analysis, both age at menarche and urinary CRP were negatively associated with estradiol (R(2) = 0.44, P = 0.0007). Age at menarche and estradiol were the strongest negative predictors of CRP (R(2) = 0.52, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Inflammation itself may suppress ovarian function, or indicate immune challenges that lead to ovarian suppression. The timing of menarche may also influence adult inflammatory sensitivity and ovarian hormone concentrations. This lends support to existing models of trade-offs between maintenance and reproduction in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn B H Clancy
- Department of Anthropology, Laboratory for Evolutionary Endocrinology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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Bernstein RM, Dominy NJ. Mount Pinatubo, Inflammatory Cytokines, and the Immunological Ecology of Aeta Hunter-Gatherers. Hum Biol 2013; 85:231-50. [DOI: 10.3378/027.085.0312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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12
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Cytokines and chemokines as biomarkers of community-acquired bacterial infection. Mediators Inflamm 2013; 2013:190145. [PMID: 23690657 PMCID: PMC3652189 DOI: 10.1155/2013/190145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Routinely used biomarkers of bacterial etiology of infection, such as C-reactive protein and procalcitonin, have limited usefulness for evaluation of infections since their expression is enhanced by a number of different conditions. Therefore, several inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were analyzed with sera from patients hospitalized for moderate bacterial and viral infectious diseases. In total, 57 subjects were enrolled: 21 patients with community-acquired bacterial infections, 26 patients with viral infections, and 10 healthy subjects (control cohorts). The laboratory analyses were performed using Luminex technology, and the following molecules were examined: IL-1Ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, INF-γ, MIP-1β, and MCP-1. Bacterial etiology of infection was associated with significantly (P < 0.001) elevated serum concentrations of IL-1Ra, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α in comparison to levels observed in the sera of patients with viral infections. In the patients with bacterial infections, IL-1Ra and IL-8 demonstrated positive correlation with C-reactive protein, whereas, IL-1Ra, TNF-α, and MCP-1 correlated with procalcitonin. Furthermore, elevated levels of IL-1Ra, IL-6, and TNF-α decreased within 3 days of antibiotic therapy to levels observed in control subjects. The results show IL-1Ra as a potential useful biomarker of community-acquired bacterial infection.
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McDade TW, Borja JB, Adair LS, Kuzawa C. Depressive symptoms are not associated with inflammation in younger and older adults in the Philippines. EVOLUTION MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2012; 2013:18-23. [PMID: 24481182 PMCID: PMC4183951 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eos004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Depression is not associated with inflammation among adults in the Philippines,
in contrast to prior research in the US. These results suggest that higher
levels of microbial exposure in the Philippines may promote the development of
immuno-regulatory pathways that prevent the emergence of a relationship between
depression and inflammation. Depression is positively associated with chronic inflammation in industrialized
settings with low burdens of infectious disease, but the pattern of association
in environments with higher levels of microbial exposure is not known. We
measured C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL6) in community-based
samples of young adults (20–22 years) and older women (35–69 years)
in the Philippines. Concentrations of CRP and IL6 were low, and bivariate and
multivariate regression analyses indicated no associations between depressive
symptoms and inflammation in either sample. Results are interpreted in light of
prior research indicating that higher levels of microbial exposure in infancy
have lasting effects on the regulation of inflammation, and may prevent the
emergence of a relationship between depression and inflammation in
adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W McDade
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; Cells to Society (C2S): The Center on Social Disparities and Health, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; USC-Office of Population Studies Foundation, Inc., University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines; Carolina Population Center and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Early environments and the ecology of inflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109 Suppl 2:17281-8. [PMID: 23045646 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1202244109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research has implicated inflammatory processes in the pathophysiology of a wide range of chronic degenerative diseases, although inflammation has long been recognized as a critical line of defense against infectious disease. However, current scientific understandings of the links between chronic low-grade inflammation and diseases of aging are based primarily on research in high-income nations with low levels of infectious disease and high levels of overweight/obesity. From a comparative and historical point of view, this epidemiological situation is relatively unique, and it may not capture the full range of ecological variation necessary to understand the processes that shape the development of inflammatory phenotypes. The human immune system is characterized by substantial developmental plasticity, and a comparative, developmental, ecological framework is proposed to cast light on the complex associations among early environments, regulation of inflammation, and disease. Recent studies in the Philippines and lowland Ecuador reveal low levels of chronic inflammation, despite higher burdens of infectious disease, and point to nutritional and microbial exposures in infancy as important determinants of inflammation in adulthood. By shaping the regulation of inflammation, early environments moderate responses to inflammatory stimuli later in life, with implications for the association between inflammation and chronic diseases. Attention to the eco-logics of inflammation may point to promising directions for future research, enriching our understanding of this important physiological system and informing approaches to the prevention and treatment of disease.
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Miller EM, McDade TW. A highly sensitive immunoassay for interleukin-6 in dried blood spots. Am J Hum Biol 2012; 24:863-5. [PMID: 23042671 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Revised: 08/22/2012] [Accepted: 08/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is associated with the production of C-reactive protein, the acute phase response, and chronic low-grade inflammation. In this report, we describe and validate a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantifying IL-6 at low concentrations in samples of capillary whole blood collected from a simple finger stick and dried on filter paper (dried blood spots, DBS). METHODS A commercially available ELISA for IL-6 was modified to develop a protocol for the quantification of IL-6 in DBS samples. Procedures for sample elution and incubation were optimized for precision, reliability, accuracy, and lower limit of detection using small volumes of DBS. A set of 46 matched serum/DBS samples were used to evaluate agreement between serum and DBS results. RESULTS The protocol demonstrated acceptable levels of precision, reliability, accuracy, and agreement with serum-based results. The lower limit of detection was sufficiently low to measure levels of IL-6 associated with both chronic, low-grade inflammation, and acute increases in inflammatory activity. CONCLUSIONS This protocol adds to the growing panel of analytes validated for quantification in DBS samples and should facilitate future research on the causes and consequences of inflammation in diverse non-clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Miller
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
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Kuzawa CW, Tallman PS, Adair LS, Lee N, McDade TW. Inflammatory profiles in the non-pregnant state predict offspring birth weight at Cebu: evidence for inter-generational effects of low grade inflammation. Ann Hum Biol 2012; 39:267-74. [PMID: 22690728 DOI: 10.3109/03014460.2012.692810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although maternal infection and inflammation during pregnancy can adversely affect offspring birth weight (BW), whether low grade inflammation in the non-pregnant state predicts BW is unknown. AIM To evaluate relationships between offspring BW and pro- and anti-inflammatory factors measured in parous but non-pregnant women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Data come from 234 parous Filipino females (21.5 ± 0.3 years) in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey, a population-based birth cohort in Metropolitan Cebu, Philippines. Pro-inflammatory [Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), C-reactive protein (CRP)] and anti-inflammatory [Interleukin-10 (IL-10)] factors were measured in fasting plasma when the women were not pregnant, and related to recalled offspring BW. RESULTS BW in female offspring was lower only among women with high IL-1β. Although pro-inflammatory cytokines did not predict BW in male offspring, women with higher anti-inflammatory IL-10 gave birth to larger males. Women with a combination of low inflammatory (IL-6) and high anti-inflammatory (IL-10) factors (interaction p < 0.104) gave birth to the largest males. CONCLUSION Immune factors measured outside of pregnancy predict offspring BW in these young women. Stable variation in inflammatory phenotype could impact the gestational environment of offspring, thus pointing to potential inter-generational effects of chronic low-grade inflammation.
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McDade TW, Tallman PS, Madimenos FC, Liebert MA, Cepon TJ, Sugiyama LS, Snodgrass JJ. Analysis of variability of high sensitivity C-reactive protein in lowland Ecuador reveals no evidence of chronic low-grade inflammation. Am J Hum Biol 2012; 24:675-81. [PMID: 22639072 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2012] [Accepted: 05/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES C-reactive protein (CRP) is a central component of innate immune defenses, and high sensitivity CRP has emerged as an important biomarker of chronic inflammation and cardiovascular disease risk. Prior analyses of CRP variability have reported stable between-individual differences in CRP over time, but a limitation of current knowledge is that it is based on research conducted in post-epidemiologic transition populations. METHODS This study evaluated CRP variability among adults in the southeastern region of the Ecuadorian Amazon where rates of infectious diseases remain high. Blood samples were collected from 52 adults at four weekly sampling intervals and were quantified using a high-sensitivity immunoassay. RESULTS Median CRP concentration was 0.52 mg/l. About 34.6% of participants had CRP >3 mg/l at one time point, but no individuals had CRP >3 mg/l across two or more sampling intervals, and within-individual correlations revealed low levels of stable, between-individual differences in CRP. The application of current guidelines for the assessment of chronic inflammation failed to detect a single case of "high risk" CRP. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to investigate CRP variability in a nonindustrialized, high infectious disease environment. It documents a pattern of variation over time that is distinct from prior research, with no evidence for chronic low-grade inflammation. These results may have substantial implications for research on inflammation and diseases of aging globally, as well as for scientific understandings of the regulation of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W McDade
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
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