Tao Chen1, Min Guo1, Yunsuo Gao2, Feng Chen3, Juncheng Guo1, Tao Liu1, Duoyu Wu2, Xianglin Jiang1. 1. Department of Neurology, Hainan People's Hospital, Haikou, Hainan 570311, China. 2. Medical Records Room, Hainan People's Hospital, Haikou, Hainan 570311, China. 3. Department of Radiology, Hainan People's Hospital, Haikou, Hainan 570311, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder with delayed or chronic onset caused by unusual, threatening, or disastrous psychological trauma, and it is an important manifestation of post-disaster mental and behavioral disorders. Studies have shown that IL-6 is a cytokine associated with PTSD occurrence. This study aimed to explore the role of cytokine and ethnicity in the pathogenesis of PTSD by examining levels of serum cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and cortisol in PTSD patients of Li and Han ethnic groups. METHODS: Levels of serum cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and cortisol were examined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) method and assessed by PCL-C scale among 30 PTSD patients of Han ethnicity and 30 of Li ethnicity, and compared with 30 normal controls of Han and Li ethnicity, respectively. RESULTS: PTSD patients of Li ethnicity scored higher than PTSD patients of Han ethnicity, and normal controls of Li and Han ethnic groups in each of the re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal symptoms. The differences reached statistical significance (P < 0.05). In PTSD patients of Li ethnicity compared to patients of Han ethnicity and normal controls of either Li or Han ethnicity, the levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were higher, and the level of cortisol was lower. CONCLUSIONS: There are ethnic differences in re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal symptoms among PTSD patients. The levels of serum cortisol and cytokines are strongly associated with the race.
BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder with delayed or chronic onset caused by unusual, threatening, or disastrous psychological trauma, and it is an important manifestation of post-disaster mental and behavioral disorders. Studies have shown that IL-6 is a cytokine associated with PTSD occurrence. This study aimed to explore the role of cytokine and ethnicity in the pathogenesis of PTSD by examining levels of serum cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and cortisol in PTSDpatients of Li and Han ethnic groups. METHODS: Levels of serum cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and cortisol were examined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) method and assessed by PCL-C scale among 30 PTSDpatients of Han ethnicity and 30 of Li ethnicity, and compared with 30 normal controls of Han and Li ethnicity, respectively. RESULTS:PTSDpatients of Li ethnicity scored higher than PTSDpatients of Han ethnicity, and normal controls of Li and Han ethnic groups in each of the re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal symptoms. The differences reached statistical significance (P < 0.05). In PTSDpatients of Li ethnicity compared to patients of Han ethnicity and normal controls of either Li or Han ethnicity, the levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were higher, and the level of cortisol was lower. CONCLUSIONS: There are ethnic differences in re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal symptoms among PTSDpatients. The levels of serum cortisol and cytokines are strongly associated with the race.
Authors: Hubertus Himmerich; Jörg-Egbert Wolf; Peter Zimmermann; Antje H Bühler; Lesca M Holdt; Daniel Teupser; Kenneth C Kirkby; Gerd D Willmund; Ulrich Wesemann Journal: Chin Med J (Engl) Date: 2016-03-20 Impact factor: 2.628