Social regulation of leukocyte homeostasis: The role of glucocorticoid sensitivity

Abstract Recent small-scale genomics analyses suggest that physiologic regulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression by endogenous glucocorticoids may be compromised in individuals who experience chronic social isolation. The present study assessed the relationship between leukocyte distributional...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain, behavior, and immunity behavior, and immunity, 2008-10, Vol.22 (7), p.1049-1055
Main Author: Cole, Steve W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Allergy and Immunology
Emotions - physiology
Female
Gerontology
Glucocorticoid resistance
Glucocorticoids - blood
Glucocorticoids - physiology
Hematology
Homeostasis - physiology
Humans
Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology
Interpersonal Relations
Leukocyte homeostasis
Leukocytes - metabolism
Loneliness
Lymphocytes - metabolism
Male
Middle Aged
Monocytes - metabolism
Neutrophils - metabolism
Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology
Psychiatry
Social Environment
Social epidemiology
Social Isolation
Statistics as Topic
Taiwan
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Summary:Abstract Recent small-scale genomics analyses suggest that physiologic regulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression by endogenous glucocorticoids may be compromised in individuals who experience chronic social isolation. The present study assessed the relationship between leukocyte distributional sensitivity to glucocorticoid regulation and subjective social isolation in a large population-based sample of older adults. Initial analyses confirmed that circulating neutrophil percentages were elevated, and circulating lymphocyte and monocyte percentages were suppressed, in direct proportion to circulating cortisol levels. However, leukocyte distributional sensitivity to endogenous glucocorticoids was abrogated in individuals reporting either occasional or frequent experiences of subjective social isolation. This finding held in both non-parametric univariate analyses and in multivariate linear models controlling for a variety of biological, social, behavioral, and psychological confounders. The present results suggest that social factors may alter immune cell sensitivity to physiologic regulation by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in ways that could ultimately contribute to the increased physical health risks associated with social isolation.
ISSN:0889-1591
1090-2139
DOI:10.1016/j.bbi.2008.02.006