Abstract
Background: Depressive mood exerts a suppressive effect on immune functions, mediated through neuro-immune processes. Research suggests a protective effect of sense of coherence (SOC) on psychological and physical health in face of stressful life events. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a cellular second messenger that is coupled to certain receptors expressed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). By interfering with the neuro-endocrine-immune axis, depressive mood may induce changes in intracellular cAMP levels in PBMC. Aims of study: To examine a possibble association of SOC, stressful life events during the pevious year, depressive mood, and cAMP levels. Methods: Fifteen male volunteers participated in the study. They completed the SOC and Zung's depression questionnaires and stressful life events inventory. Basic cAMP level and forskolin-stimulated cAMP production were measured in PBMC. Results: Forskolin-stimulated cAMP production was significantly higher in individuals who reported higher depressive mood, more stressful life events, or lower SOC scores. SOC scores explained 40% of forskolin-stimulated cAMP production. Basal cAMP levels could not be correlated with psychological scores. Age or education level did not affect forskolin-stimulated or basal cAMP levels. Conclusions: Our data suggest that high forskolin-stimulated cAMP production in PBMC is associated with low SOC, which points to availability ot personal resources for coping with stressful life events. Further examination of the possible mediating role of SOC in relation to depressive mood and neuroimmune functions is needed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 177-183 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Psychophysiology |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2004 |
Keywords
- Adenylate cyclase
- Blood mononuclear cells
- Cyclic AMP
- Depressive mood
- Sense of coherence
- Stressful life events
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience
- Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
- Physiology