Specifically, Cole analyzed transcription factor binding sequences in a gene called IL6, a molecule that is known to cause inflammation in the body and that contributes to cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration and some types of cancer.
"The IL6 gene controls immune responses but can also serve as 'fertilizer' for cardiovascular disease and certain kinds of cancer," said Cole, who is also a member of UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and UCLA's Molecular Biology Institute. "Our studies were able to trace a biochemical pathway through which adverse life circumstances — fight-or-flight stress responses — can activate the IL6 gene.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IL6 gene.
IL-6 acts as both a pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine - an immune system messenger molecule. IL-6 is relevant to many disease processes such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, prostate cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Advanced metastatic cancer patients have higher levels of IL6 in their blood.
Cytokines are regulatory signaling proteins, taking messages from cell to cell and influencing the behaviour and activity of the cells. Their pro-inflammatory behaviour is implicated in many of the processes that plague pregnant women, causing havoc for them and their babies.
This study is very exciting. Such clear linking of stress response and cytokine activation as described by these researchers is essentially providing more evidence that pregnant women need environments which are calm, relaxed, nurturing and supportive. Midwives are the obvious people to support, nurture and ensure calm and relaxed surroundings as they work with women to normalise their experiences of change on the journey to becoming a mother.
- Kristiansen OP, Mandrup-Poulsen T (December 2005). "Interleukin-6 and diabetes: the good, the bad, or the indifferent?". Diabetes 54 Suppl 2: S114–24. PMID 16306329.
- Dubiński A, Zdrojewicz Z (April 2007). "[The role of interleukin-6 in development and progression of atherosclerosis]" (in Polish). Pol. Merkur. Lekarski 22 (130): 291–4. PMID 17684929.
- Tackey E, Lipsky PE, Illei GG (2004). "Rationale for interleukin-6 blockade in systemic lupus erythematosus". Lupus 13 (5): 339–43. PMID 15230289.
- Smith PC, Hobisch A, Lin DL, Culig Z, Keller ET (March 2001). "Interleukin-6 and prostate cancer progression". Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 12 (1): 33–40. PMID 11312117.
- Nishimoto N (May 2006). "Interleukin-6 in rheumatoid arthritis". Curr Opin Rheumatol 18 (3): 277–81. doi:. PMID 16582692.
- "Cancer Patients Typically Have Increased Interleukin-6 Levels". American Society of Clinical Oncology 2006 Annual Meeting, Abstracts 8632 and 8633. Medscape.com. 2006-06-26. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/537309.
Study finds genetic link between misery and death
