Identification of Relationships Between Interleukin 15 mRNA and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor II mRNA Levels With Formal Components of Temperament in Asthmatic Patients

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory and heterogeneous disease developing mostly through allergic inflammation, which modifies the expression of various cytokines and neurotrophins. Previous studies suggest the involvement of interleukin (IL)-15 in the regulation of immune response in asthma. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) II plays an important role as a regulator of development and survival of neurons as well as maintenance of their physiological activity. Chronic stress associated with asthma and elevated IL-15 mRNA and BDNFII mRNA levels may affect the mood and a subjective sensation of dyspnoea-inducing anxiety. Psychopathological variables and numerous cytokine/neurotrophin interactions influence the formation of temperament and strategies of coping with stress. The aim of the study was to identify the role of IL-15 mRNA and BDNFII mRNA expressions and their effect on components of temperament and strategies of coping with stress in asthmatics. A total of 352 subjects (176 healthy volunteers and 176 asthmatic patients) participated in the study. The Formal Characteristic of Behaviour-Temperament Inventory (FCB-TI), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale were applied in all the subjects. The expression of IL-15 and BDNFII gene was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Different levels of IL-15 and BDNFII expressions between healthy volunteers and patients were revealed in the study. IL-15 enhanced the BDNFII mRNA expression among patients with bronchial asthma. The depression level negatively correlated with the BDNFII mRNA expression. This neurotrophin modified the temperament variable. BDNFII significantly affected (proportional relationship) the level of briskness in asthmatic patients. BDNFII might influence the level and style of coping with stress (emotion-oriented style). This hypothesis requires further studies on protein functional models. The obtained data confirms the role of IL-15 and BDNFII in the pathomechanisms of depression and formation of selected traits defining the temperament in asthmatics.

Bronchial asthma control degree and the temperament structure according to the Eysenck model

“…High neuroticism means a tendency to depression and anxiety. Indeed, numerous other studies have confirmed that individuals with poor asthma control tend to be anxious and depressive [4,5,15]. Sastre et al have demonstrated that anxiety, depressiveness and a low forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) value are independent risk factors for poor asthma control [16].…”

“…It should be considered why poor control of asthma is related to neuroticism. Poor control of the disease means its severe course, the presence of dyspnea attacks, limitation of activity, and secondary anxiety and depression [4,5]. Thus, poorly controlled asthma can be viewed as a strong stresor that interferes with the functioning of the human being and leads to emotional disorders [11,19].…”

“…Asthma is obviously a disease of a psychosomatic nature, although its causes are disorders of regulation in the immune system most commonly associated with atopy and allergic inflammation of the tissue lining the bronchial tubes. The psychosomatic conditioning of bronchial asthma is evidenced even by the commonly known effect of stress on induction of dyspnea attacks, associated with hyperreactivity of the inflammation-affected bronchial mucosa and secondary hypersensitivity to cold air during emotion-induced hyperventilation [4,5]. The psychosomatic nature of the disease does not undermine the concept of its inflammatory and immune background but rather points to the links between mental processes and the immune system in humans and to the validity of the psychoneuroimmunology paradigm.…”

Type D personality and the degree of control of bronchial asthma

“…At the time of infection in the course of bronchial asthma, numerous proinflammatory cytokines produced by several cell types are secreted, which correlates with the severity of depressiveness, which has been demonstrated in particular with respect to interleukin 5 [ 21 ]. Our own research has shown that the level of mRNA for interleukin 15 in patients with bronchial asthma correlates with the temperamental personality traits [ 22 ], and that there is a relationship between asthma patients’ personality and a polymorphism of the gene coding for the glucocorticosteroid receptor [ 9 ]. Depressiveness is often associated with anxiety, which, especially in the form of attacks, can induce bronchospasm in the course of asthma [ 23 ].…”

Type A Behavior Pattern, Impulsiveness, Risk Propensity, and Empathy as Predictors of Dyspnea and Number of Infections in Men with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…In addition to anxiety, the predictors of severity of dyspnea included body mass index and value of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1) [ 24 , 25 ]. In our own research, we have shown that the dimensions of temperament according to the concept developed in Poland by Strelau (in the regulatory temperament theory), and especially the low activity dimension, are associated with the severity of asthma and shortness of breath [ 24 , 25 ]. The personality structure, through the limbic system and the autonomic nervous system, influences the reactivity of the internal organs, including bronchospasm [ 26 ].…”