Helping hands, healthy body? Oxytocin receptor gene and prosocial behavior interact to buffer the association between stress and physical health

Poulin, Michael J.; Holman, E. Alison

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.01.004

Cited by 42 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(72 reference statements)

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“…Two studies found that GG carriers were more susceptible for negative environments (i.e., interparental conflict and childhood maltreatment) [21], [22], whereas the study on physical health problems found that A carriers were more susceptible to negative environments [24]. The results from Bradley et al and Sturge-Apple et al are in contrast with our findings, which showed that adolescents carrying an A allele were more negatively affected by their environment.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…To our knowledge, only three other studies found gene-environment interactions with the OXTR rs53576 variant on maternal sensitivity [21], emotion dysregulation [22], and physical health problems [24]. Two studies found that GG carriers were more susceptible for negative environments (i.e., interparental conflict and childhood maltreatment) [21], [22], whereas the study on physical health problems found that A carriers were more susceptible to negative environments [24].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…In addition, another study found that G carriers (i.e., GG and AG genotypes) showed lower stress responses after receiving social support, compared to AA genotypes who did not benefit from social support [23]. In contrast, another study examining physical health problems found that for A carriers, exposure to more stressful life events was related to new-onset ailments, whereas there was no relation between stressful life events and ailments in GG genotypes [24]. These findings indicate that A carriers would be more susceptible to negative environments than GG genotypes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Oxytocin Receptor Gene (OXTR) in Relation to State Levels of Loneliness in Adolescence: Evidence for Micro-Level Gene-Environment Interactions

et al. 2013

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Previous research has shown that the rs53576 variant of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is associated with trait levels of loneliness, but results are inconsistent. The aim of the present study is to examine micro-level effects of the OXTR rs53576 variant on state levels of loneliness in early adolescents. In addition, gene-environment interactions are examined between this OXTR variant and positive and negative perceptions of company. Data were collected in 278 adolescents (58% girls), by means of the Experience Sampling Method (ESM). Sampling periods consisted of six days with nine assessments per day. A relation was found between the OXTR rs53576 variant and state loneliness, in girls only. Girls carrying an A allele had higher levels of state loneliness than girls carrying the GG genotype. In addition, adolescents with an A allele were more affected by negative perceptions of company than GG carriers, on weekend days only. No significant gene-environment interactions were found with positive company. Adolescents carrying an A allele were more susceptible to negative environments during weekend days than GG carriers. Our findings emphasize the importance of operationalizing the phenotype and the environment accurately.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Oxytocin Receptor Gene (OXTR) in Relation to State Levels of Loneliness in Adolescence: Evidence for Micro-Level Gene-Environment Interactions

et al. 2013

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“…Prosocial behavior can include acts directed at a specific other, such as purchasing coffee for a stranger, or individual efforts to better the world that are not directed at any specific individual, such as picking up litter. Beyond the general effects of social ties, observational epidemiology has also documented several health correlates of prosocial behavior in particular, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality (Brown et al, 2003(Brown et al, , 2009Konrath et al, 2012;Poulin and Holman, 2013). These effects have been hypothesized to stem from neurophysiological correlates of prosocial behavior such as alterations in oxytocin and progesterone activity (Brown and Brown, 2015) or altered activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system (Eisenberger and Cole, 2012).…”

Section: Prosocial Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior

Nelson‐Coffey

Fritz

Lyubomirsky

et al. 2017

Psychoneuroendocrinology

112

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A B S T R A C TContext: Prosocial behavior is linked to longevity, but few studies have experimentally manipulated prosocial behavior to identify the causal mechanisms underlying this association. One possible mediating pathway involves changes in gene expression that may subsequently influence disease development or resistance. Design, setting, participants: In the current study, we examined changes in a leukocyte gene expression profile known as the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity (CTRA) in 159 adults who were randomly assigned for 4 weeks to engage in prosocial behavior directed towards specific others, prosocial behavior directed towards the world in general, self-focused kindness, or a neutral control task. Results: Those randomized to prosocial behavior towards specific others demonstrated improvements (i.e., reductions) in leukocyte expression of CTRA indicator genes. No significant changes in CTRA gene expression were observed in the other 3 conditions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that prosocial behavior can causally impact leukocyte gene expression profiles in ways that might potentially help explain the previously observed health advantages associated with social ties.

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“…Noteworthy, personality traits (extraversion vs. introversion) have been identified to show different gene expression profiles related to proinflammatory signaling [27]. It is also known that stress-release programs, ethical caring, choir singing, and psychotherapy have beneficial effects on women with breast cancer [28,29,30,31], and an important stress-reducing aspect of anthroposophic care is the individually composed therapy consisting of holistic care including natural products, Iscador, diets, art therapy, rhythmic therapy, therapeutic massage, and hydrotherapy [3,4]. A deeper psychoneuroimmunological understanding of these effects induced by intervention programs are needed [32].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunological and Quality-of-Life Profiles in Women with Breast Cancer: Complementary versus Conventional Care

Hamrin¹,

Ernerudh²,

Rosén³

2018

Complement Med Res

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Background: Previous studies showed that women with breast cancer treated in anthroposophic clinic versus conventional care had increased quality of life (QoL) parameters, fighting spirit, and anxiety coping. We have now analyzed immune and QoL factors in these 2 groups for possible differences during the first 6 months after admission, prompted by anthroposophic studies, including mistletoe extracts, showing beneficial immune system effects. Patients and Methods: Fourteen immunological variables, including leukocyte count, lymphocyte count, activated T cells (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺), NK cells, B cells, IL1β, IL6, IL10, and oxytocin, were longitudinally analyzed in both groups (n = 2 × 26). A panel of QoL parameters were analyzed using 3 different instruments. Statistical evaluation included that each patient was its own control. Results: Cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cell frequency (percent of lymphocytes analyzed by flow-cytometry) significantly decreased over time in the anthroposophic group versus the conventional group (repeated measures ANOVA, p = 0.05). No major differences were observed in other immunological parameters, whereas QoL variables, anxiety decreased and physical symptoms increased/improved significantly in the anthroposophic group (p = 0.04 and p = 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Overall, women with breast cancer in anthroposophic or conventional therapy did not differ in their immune profiles over time, with exception of decreased cytotoxic T cells in the anthroposophic group. Improvement in physical symptoms along with less anxiety in this group may have influenced the brain-immune axis resulting in lower frequency of CD8⁺ T cells, a feature associated with less aggressive cancer stages. To evaluate whether this observation is associated with good or bad prognosis, further detailed analyses of memory and naïve CD8⁺ T cells at tumor site and in blood circulation are essential.

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Helping hands, healthy body? Oxytocin receptor gene and prosocial behavior interact to buffer the association between stress and physical health

Cited by 42 publications

References 40 publications

The Oxytocin Receptor Gene (OXTR) in Relation to State Levels of Loneliness in Adolescence: Evidence for Micro-Level Gene-Environment Interactions

The Oxytocin Receptor Gene (OXTR) in Relation to State Levels of Loneliness in Adolescence: Evidence for Micro-Level Gene-Environment Interactions

Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior

Immunological and Quality-of-Life Profiles in Women with Breast Cancer: Complementary versus Conventional Care

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