Relationship closeness buffers the effects of perceived stress on transcriptomic indicators of cellular stress and biological aging marker p16^INK4a.

ABSTRACT: Chronic stress can accelerate biological aging, offering one mechanism through which stress may increase age-related disease risk. Chronic activation of the sympathoadrenal system increases cellular energy production, resulting in cell stress that can initiate cellular senescence, a permanent state of cell growth arrest. Our previous research linked psychosocial stress with increased expression of senescence marker p16^INK4a; however, less is known about the role of protective psychosocial factors in biological aging. We examined relationship closeness (perceived interconnectedness with one's spouse) as a protective buffer of the effects of stress on expression of the p16^INK4a-encoding gene (CDKN2A) and transcription control pathways activated under cell stress.

SUBMITTER: Rentscher KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7485710 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature