Social regulation of gene expression in human leukocytes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Social environmental influences on human health are well established in the epidemiology literature, but their functional genomic mechanisms are unclear. The present study analyzed genome-wide transcriptional activity in people who chronically experienced high versus low levels of subjective social isolation (loneliness) to assess alterations in the activity of transcription control pathways that might contribute to increased adverse health outcomes in social isolates.

Results

DNA microarray analysis identified 209 genes that were differentially expressed in circulating leukocytes from 14 high- versus low-lonely individuals, including up-regulation of genes involved in immune activation, transcription control, and cell proliferation, and down-regulation of genes s

SUBMITTER: Cole SW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2375027 | biostudies-literature | 2007

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature