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Inflammatory response to mental stress and mental stress induced myocardial ischemia

Muhammad Hammadah1, Samaah Sullivan2, Brad Pearce2

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
|October 8, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mental stress increases inflammatory markers, but this response is not linked to mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI) in coronary artery disease patients. Baseline inflammation and stress-induced changes do not predict MSIMI development.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Immunology
  • Psychocardiology

Background:

  • Mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI) is a risk factor for cardiovascular events, but its mechanisms remain unclear.
  • Investigating the inflammatory response to acute mental stress in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients is crucial for understanding MSIMI.
  • This study hypothesizes a heightened inflammatory response in CAD patients who develop MSIMI during mental stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between inflammatory markers and MSIMI in patients with CAD under acute mental stress.
  • To determine if baseline inflammatory status or the magnitude of inflammatory response to stress predicts MSIMI.

Main Methods:

  • Coronary artery disease patients underwent myocardial perfusion imaging during a public speaking stress test.
  • Inflammatory markers (IL-6, MCP-1, MMP-9, hsCRP) were measured at rest and post-stress.
  • Results were validated in an independent cohort of post-myocardial infarction patients.

Main Results:

  • Mental stress significantly increased IL-6, MCP-1, and MMP-9, but not hsCRP.
  • The inflammatory marker changes during stress were similar in patients with and without MSIMI.
  • Neither resting inflammatory marker levels nor their stress-induced changes were significantly associated with MSIMI.

Conclusions:

  • Acute mental stress triggers an increase in specific inflammatory markers.
  • However, neither baseline inflammation nor the acute inflammatory response to mental stress is significantly associated with MSIMI in CAD patients.
Keywords:
C reactive proteinInflammationInterleukin 6Matrix metallopeptidase 9Mental stressMonocyte chemoattractant protein-1Myocardial ischemia

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