Associations between high perceived stress, inflammatory proteins, and BDNF: a cross-sectional study of young adult females in Shanghai, China.
Young women with high perceived stress show distinct inflammatory profiles and lower BDNF levels, indicating a potential link between chronic stress and inflammation.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the oxytocin corpusSummary and findings
This study examined the relationship between perceived stress and inflammatory protein levels in healthy young adult females aged 18-35 in Shanghai, China. Participants were divided into high and low perceived stress groups based on self-reported questionnaires. The high stress group exhibited elevated levels of certain inflammatory proteins and reduced BDNF levels.
Abstract
Psychological stress accelerates aging, increasing morbidity and mortality risks, though the mechanisms behind this relationship are still under investigation. This cross-sectional study explored the link between perceived stress and blood protein profiles by recruiting healthy female subjects (aged 18-35) stratified into high (HS) and low (LS) perceived stress groups according to self-reported subjective questionnaires in Shanghai, China. The HS group displayed a higher tendency of neuroticism along with depression, anxiety, and emotional volatility. The exploratory proteomic analysis of blood samples was performed, evaluating 92 inflammation/immune related proteins using the Olink high-throughput platform. Concurrently, targeted analysis of pre-specified stress-related neurological biomarkers including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and oxytocin were performed using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results demonstrated that the HS group displayed elevated levels of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1, log2FC = 0.565) and sirtuin 2 (SIRT2, log2FC = 0.383). Age-segregated analysis (early young adult (EYA), 18-25 years old; middle young adult (MYA), 25-30 years old; late young adult (LYA), 30-35 years old) revealed that BDNF was decreased in the LYA group and demonstrated a moderate negative correlation with 4E-BP1 and SIRT2. Cytokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-10 were also significantly elevated in the LYA group. These findings indicated that Chinese, young women with HS exhibit distinct inflammatory profiles and reduced BDNF levels, suggesting that chronic stress may be associated with increased inflammation and compromised neuronal plasticity, highlighting the need for future longitudinal studies to clarify the long-term impact of stress on mental wellbeing.
Background
This paper addresses the relationship between perceived stress and inflammatory markers, particularly in young adult females. Previous research has established links between stress and various health outcomes, but the specific mechanisms, especially involving proteins like BDNF, remain unclear. Understanding these associations is critical for developing interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of stress on health.
Methods
This cross-sectional study involved healthy female subjects aged 18-35 from Shanghai, China, who were stratified into high and low perceived stress groups based on self-reported questionnaires. The study evaluated 92 inflammation-related proteins using the Olink high-throughput platform and measured BDNF and oxytocin levels via ELISA. The sample size is not reported in the abstract.
Results
The HS group exhibited elevated levels of 4E-BP1 (log2FC = 0.565) and SIRT2 (log2FC = 0.383). Age-segregated analysis revealed decreased BDNF levels in the LYA group and a moderate negative correlation with 4E-BP1 and SIRT2. Additionally, IL-8 and IL-10 were significantly elevated in the LYA group.
Interpretation
The findings suggest that high perceived stress is associated with distinct inflammatory profiles and reduced BDNF levels in young adult females. While the results are statistically significant, the clinical significance of these findings remains uncertain, particularly given the lack of longitudinal data. Confounding factors such as the cross-sectional design and demographic specificity limit the generalizability of the conclusions.
Key findings
- 4E-BP1 levels were elevated in the HS group with log2FC = 0.565.
- SIRT2 levels were elevated in the HS group with log2FC = 0.383.
- BDNF was decreased in the late young adult (LYA) group.
- Cytokines IL-8 and IL-10 were significantly elevated in the LYA group.
Limitations
- cross-sectional design limits causal inferences
- specific demographic may not generalize
- sample size not reported in abstract