Personality and gene expression: Do individual differences exist in the leukocyte transcriptome?

ABSTRACT:

Background

The temporal and situational stability of personality has led generations of researchers to hypothesize that personality may have enduring effects on health, but the biological mechanisms of such relationships remain poorly understood. In the present study, we utilized a functional genomics approach to examine the relationship between the 5 major dimensions of personality and patterns of gene expression as predicted by 'behavioural immune response' theory. We specifically focussed on two sets of genes previously linked to stress, threat, and adverse socio-environmental conditions: pro-inflammatory genes and genes involved in Type I interferon and antibody responses.

Methods

An opportunity sample of 121 healthy individuals was recruited (86 females; mean age 24 yea

SUBMITTER: Vedhara K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4297539 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature