BACKGROUND: Psychologic stress in humans induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and that of the negative immunoregulatory cytokine, IL-10. An imbalance of omega6 to omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the peripheral blood causes an overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines. The omega3 PUFAs reduce the production of proinflammatory cytokines. METHODS: This study examines whether an imbalance in omega6 to omega3 PUFAs in human blood predicts a greater production of proinflammatory cytokines in response to psychologic stress. Twenty-seven university students had serum sampled a few weeks before and after as well as 1 day before a difficult oral examination. We determined the omega6 and omega3 fractions in serum phospholipids as well as the ex vivo production of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-5 by diluted whole blood stimulated with polyclonal activators. RESULTS: Academic examination stress significantly increased the ex vivo, stimulated production of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-10, and the IFN-gamma/IL-5 production ratio. Subjects with lower serum omega3 PUFA levels or with a higher omega6/omega3 ratio had significantly greater stress-induced TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma responses than subjects with higher serum omega3 PUFAs and a lower omega6/omega3 ratio, respectively. Subjects with lower serum omega3 PUFA levels or with a higher omega6/omega3 ratio had a significantly higher stress-induced increase in the IFN-gamma/IL-5 ratio than the remaining subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Psychologic stress induces a Th-1-like or proinflammatory response in some subjects. An imbalance in the omega6 to omega3 PUFA ratio appears to predispose humans toward an exaggerated Th-1-like response and an increased production of monocytic cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, in response to psychologic stress. The results suggest that increased omega3 PUFA levels may attenuate the proinflammatory response to psychologic stress.
BACKGROUND: Psychologic stress in humans induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and that of the negative immunoregulatory cytokine, IL-10. An imbalance of omega6 to omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the peripheral blood causes an overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines. The omega3 PUFAs reduce the production of proinflammatory cytokines. METHODS: This study examines whether an imbalance in omega6 to omega3 PUFAs in human blood predicts a greater production of proinflammatory cytokines in response to psychologic stress. Twenty-seven university students had serum sampled a few weeks before and after as well as 1 day before a difficult oral examination. We determined the omega6 and omega3 fractions in serum phospholipids as well as the ex vivo production of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-5 by diluted whole blood stimulated with polyclonal activators. RESULTS: Academic examination stress significantly increased the ex vivo, stimulated production of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-10, and the IFN-gamma/IL-5 production ratio. Subjects with lower serum omega3 PUFA levels or with a higher omega6/omega3 ratio had significantly greater stress-induced TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma responses than subjects with higher serum omega3 PUFAs and a lower omega6/omega3 ratio, respectively. Subjects with lower serum omega3 PUFA levels or with a higher omega6/omega3 ratio had a significantly higher stress-induced increase in the IFN-gamma/IL-5 ratio than the remaining subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Psychologic stress induces a Th-1-like or proinflammatory response in some subjects. An imbalance in the omega6 to omega3 PUFA ratio appears to predispose humans toward an exaggerated Th-1-like response and an increased production of monocytic cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, in response to psychologic stress. The results suggest that increased omega3 PUFA levels may attenuate the proinflammatory response to psychologic stress.
Authors: Liisa Hantsoo; Eldin Jašarević; Stephanie Criniti; Brendan McGeehan; Ceylan Tanes; Mary D Sammel; Michal A Elovitz; Charlene Compher; Gary Wu; C Neill Epperson Journal: Brain Behav Immun Date: 2018-11-03 Impact factor: 7.217
Authors: Janice K Kiecolt-Glaser; Martha A Belury; Kyle Porter; David Q Beversdorf; Stanley Lemeshow; Ronald Glaser Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2007-03-30 Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Anthony T Vesco; Jennifer Lehmann; Barbara L Gracious; L Eugene Arnold; Andrea S Young; Mary A Fristad Journal: J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol Date: 2015-08-19 Impact factor: 2.576
Authors: Michael Maes; Raz Yirmyia; Jens Noraberg; Stefan Brene; Joe Hibbeln; Giulia Perini; Marta Kubera; Petr Bob; Bernard Lerer; Mario Maj Journal: Metab Brain Dis Date: 2008-12-16 Impact factor: 3.584