146. Does gene regulation make it complicated? Differences in gene expression responses to Complicated Grief and Non-Complicated Grief

Abstract

Increased morbidity and mortality in recently bereaved spouses (e.g. “widowhood effect”) may be due to alterations in immune function. However, little is known about the impact of bereavement on gene regulation of immune cells. Complicated Grief (CG), a syndrome characterized by persistent separation distress with feelings of overwhelming yearning and preoccupation with the deceased is distinct to Non-complicated Grief (Non-CG) in various psychoneuroimmunologic aspects. In this study we examined whether the type of grief (CG vs. Non-CG) differentially affects leukocyte gene expression. Sixty-three older adults were recruited for genome-wide transcriptional profiling and bioinformatic analyses; 36 had lost their spouse/partner, with 12 of them meeting criteria for CG. The remaining 27 were nonbereaved married controls. Bereavement (both CG and Non-CG, compared to nonbereaved controls) was linked to an increased expression of genes involved in general immunologic activation and a decreased expression of genes involved in B lymphocyte responses. In contrast, CG and non-CG showed significantly different gene expression of Type I interferon-related transcripts: compared to nonbereaved controls there was substantial upregulation in Non-CG subjects and substantial downregulation in CG subjects. Bereavement significantly modulates immune function gene expression. Furthermore, innate antiviral genes are differentially expressed in response to the magnitude of bereavement-related distress (i.e., CG vs. non-CG). These molecular insights might help to understand the health effects of bereavement.