HPA-axis and inflammatory reactivity to acute stress is related with basal HPA-axis activity.
Chen X, Gianferante D, Hanlin L, Fiksdal A, Breines J, Thoma M, Rohleder N (2017)
Publication Status: Published
Publication Type: Journal article, Original article
Publication year: 2017
Journal
Book Volume: 78
Pages Range: 168-176
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.01.035
Abstract
INTRODUCTION\nInflammation 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.\nMETHODS\nWe 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.\nRESULTS\nSteeper 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).\nCONCLUSIONS\nPatterns 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.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Brandeis University
United States (USA) (US)
University of Zurich / Universität Zürich (UZH)
Switzerland (CH)
United States (USA) (US)
University of Zurich / Universität Zürich (UZH)
Switzerland (CH)
How to cite
APA:
Chen, X., Gianferante, D., Hanlin, L., Fiksdal, A., Breines, J., Thoma, M., & Rohleder, N. (2017). HPA-axis and inflammatory reactivity to acute stress is related with basal HPA-axis activity. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 78, 168-176. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.01.035
MLA:
Chen, Xuejie, et al. "HPA-axis and inflammatory reactivity to acute stress is related with basal HPA-axis activity." Psychoneuroendocrinology 78 (2017): 168-176.
BibTeX: Download