| Abstract [eng] |
The Relationship of Psychosocial Factors and Stress With Inflammatory Markers in Healthy Males Chronic stress is believed to play a pathophysiological role in various diseases via activating or modulating the immune system. There is growing evidence suggesting that the level of social-environmental stress influence the expression of inflammatory mediators. Caregiving studies provide strong evidence for an association of stress with low-grade inflammation - caregivers show elevated plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) when compared with controls. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the level of serum inflammatory biomarkers (cyclophilin A (CypA), IL-6, CRP) with psychosocial factors and stress. Serum samples were taken from 227 healthy male volunteers (mean age 38 ± 9, range 25 - 54 years) participating in the ATEROSTRES study. The concentrations of CypA and IL-6 were determined by ELISA, the level of CRP was measured by immunoturbidimetry. Psychosocial factors and stress were assessed by a questionnaire. The questionnaire was classified into three groups - work environment, social support at work and personality. Statistically significant correlation was found between the levels of IL-6 and CRP (r = 0,192, p = 0,004), but not between CypA and CRP. The studied population was grouped according to median of CRP and CypA levels (0,645 ± 1,018 mg/L and 46,816 ± 63,626 ng/mL, respectively) and by mean of IL-6 level (5,144 ± 18,361 pg/mL). Higher CRP level was identified more often in the group of men with higher sense of coherence (p = 0,046). Furthermore, there was a tendency for higher CRP level in the group of men with lower social integration (p = 0,080), lower IL-6 level – in the group of men with lower psychological demands (p = 0,099) and lower CypA level in the group of men with lower sense of coherence and coping (p = 0,079 for both). The results of our study showed that the level of inflammatory markers was associated with the psychological personality traits of healthy men but was not affected by social-environmental stress factors. |
