The authors of this study tested whether a history of chronic stress is associated with glucocorticoid receptor resistance, which in turn affects the ability to regulate the inflammatory response. In the first set of experiments, they assessed stressful life events, glucocorticoid receptor resistance, and control variables including baseline antibody to the challenge virus, age, body mass index (BMI), season, etc. in 276 healthy adult volunteers. The volunteers were subsequently quarantined, exposed to one of two rhinoviruses, and followed for 5 days to measure symptoms of a common cold. In the second study, they assessed the same control variables and glucocorticoid receptor resistance in 79 subjects who were subsequently exposed to a rhinovirus and monitored at baseline and for 5 days after viral challenge for proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6). Results showed that subjects with recent exposure to long-term threatening stressful events demonstrated glucocorticoid receptor resistance. These subjects, in turn, were at higher risk of subsequently developing a cold. Study 2: With the same controls used in study 1, greater glucocorticoid receptor resistance predicted the production of higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines among infected subjects. These data suggest that prolonged stress results in glucocorticoid receptor resistance, which, in turn, interferes with regulation of inflammation. Since inflammation plays an important role in a wide range of health problems, these results help to understand the role of stress in health and disease.
Cohen S, Janicki-Deverts D, Doyle WJ, Miller GE, Frank E, Rabin BS and Turner RB: Chronic stress, glucocorticoid receptor resistance, inflammation, and disease risk. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 109(16): 5995-5999 (2012).
