Emerging evidence points to interactions between inflammatory markers and stress reactivity in predicting mental health risk, but underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in inflammatory signaling and Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis stress-response, and has recently been identified as a candidate biomarker for depression and anxiety risk. We examined polymorphic variations of the MIF gene in association with baseline MIF levels, HPA axis reactivity, and self-reported anxiety responses to a social stressor in 74 adolescents, ages 10–14 years. Genotyping was performed for two polymorphisms, the -794 CATT5-8 tetranucleotide repeat and the -173*G/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Youth carrying the MIF-173*C and CATT7 alleles displayed attenuated cortisol reactivity when compared with non-carriers. Children with the CATT7-173*C haplotype displayed lower cortisol reactivity to the stressor compared to those without this haplotype. Additionally, the CATT5-173*C and CATT6-173*C haplotypes were associated with lower self-reported anxiety ratings across the stressor. Results extend prior work pointing to the influence of MIF signaling on neuroendocrine response to stress and suggest a potential pathophysiological pathway underlying risk for stress-related physical and mental health disorders. To our knowledge, these are the first data showing associations between the MIF gene, HPA axis reactivity, and anxiety symptoms during adolescence.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 170-178 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Psychoneuroendocrinology |
Volume | 95 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2018 |
ID: 62763424