Aspirin, but not propranolol, attenuates the acute stress-induced increase in circulating levels of interleukin-6: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

• Published in: Brain, behavior, and immunity behavior, and immunity, 2008-02, Vol.22 (2), p.150-157
• Main Authors: von Känel, Roland, Kudielka, Brigitte M, Metzenthin, Petra, Helfricht, Susanne, Preckel, Daniel, Haeberli, André, Stutz, Monika, Fischer, Joachim E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - administration & dosage; Adult; Allergy and Immunology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - administration & dosage; Aspirin - administration & dosage; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - immunology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cytokines; Double-Blind Method; Drugs; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Interleukin-6 - blood; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroimmunomodulation - drug effects; Neuroimmunomodulation - immunology; Placebos; Propranolol - administration & dosage; Psychiatry; Psychological stress; Rest; Stress, Psychological - drug therapy; Stress, Psychological - immunology
• ISSN: 0889-1591; 1090-2139
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2007.07.005

Abstract Psychosocial stress might increase the risk of atherothrombotic events by setting off an elevation in circulating levels of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6. We investigated the effect of aspirin and propranolol on the responsiveness of plasma IL-6 levels to acute psychosocial stress. For 5 days, 64 healthy subjects were randomized, double-blind, to daily oral aspirin 100 mg plus long-acting propranolol 80 mg, aspirin 100 mg plus placebo, long-acting propranolol 80 mg plus placebo, or placebo plus placebo. Thereafter, all subjects underwent the 13-min Trier Social Stress Test, which combines a preparation phase, a job interview, and a mental arithmetic task. Plasma IL-6 levels were measured in blood samples collected immediately pre- and post-stress, and 45 min and 105 min thereafter. The change in IL-6 from pre-stress to 105 min post-stress differed between subjects with aspirin medication and those without ( p = 0.033; η p 2 = 0.059). IL-6 levels increased less from pre-stress to 105 min post-stress ( p < 0.027) and were lower ( p = 0.010) at 105 min post-stress in subjects with aspirin than in subjects without aspirin. The significance of these results was maintained when controlling for gender, age, waist-to-hip ratio, mean arterial blood pressure, and smoking status. Medication with propranolol was not significantly associated with the stress-induced change in IL-6 levels. Also, aspirin and propranolol did not significantly interact in determining the IL-6 stress response. Aspirin but not propranolol attenuated the stress-induced increase in plasma IL-6 levels. This suggests one mechanism by which aspirin treatment might reduce the risk of atherothrombotic events triggered by acute mental stress.