34. Gene polymorphisms of stress hormone receptors and cytokine receptors associate with immunomodulatory profile and psychological measurements

Abstract

The association between psychological stress and immune response has been firmly established, but prospectively identifying individual stress susceptibility is difficult. We sought to identify stable single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) biomarkers that could predict specific immune alterations association with chronic stress measures (PSS, STAI, BDI) in humans. 207 normal participants answered stress questionnaires and gave peripheral blood (PBMC) for identification of SNPs in genes coding for glucocorticoid receptor (GR), beta 2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR), interferon-γ receptors (IFNGR1, IFNGR2), interleukin4 receptor (IL4R) and quantitation of Th1 and Th2 cells by flow cytometry. Results showed several significant differences in relationships between stress markers and immune indicators based upon SNP categories including positive correlation of Th1 with PSS in minor allele (AA) of GR TthIIII and minor allele (Arg/Arg) of IFNGR2 Q64R compared to wild type (WT), negative correlation of Th2 with BDI in minor allele (GG) of GR BclI compared to WT and negative correlation of Th1/Th2 ratio with BDI in minor allele (Glu/Glu) of B2AR Gln27Glu compared to WT. We conclude that gene polymorphisms from various components of the stress-immune network may be useful as biomarkers to categorize and possibly predict individual stress-associated immune responses. This approach has significant clinical potential in identifying those patients who may be most susceptible to stress effects on their immune balance.