A functional genomic perspective on human well-being.
Title | A functional genomic perspective on human well-being. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2013 |
Authors | Fredrickson BL, Grewen KM, Coffey KA, Algoe SB, Firestine AM, Arevalo JMG, Ma J, Cole SW |
Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A |
Volume | 110 |
Issue | 33 |
Pagination | 13684-9 |
Date Published | 2013 Aug 13 |
ISSN | 1091-6490 |
Keywords | Adult, Antibodies, Computational Biology, Gene Regulatory Networks, Genome, Human, Happiness, Humans, Interferon Type I, Leukocytes, Mononuclear, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, NF-kappa B, North Carolina, Pleasure, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Transcription Factor AP-1, Transcription Factors, Transcriptome |
Abstract | To identify molecular mechanisms underlying the prospective health advantages associated with psychological well-being, we analyzed leukocyte basal gene expression profiles in 80 healthy adults who were assessed for hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, as well as potentially confounded negative psychological and behavioral factors. Hedonic and eudaimonic well-being showed similar affective correlates but highly divergent transcriptome profiles. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from people with high levels of hedonic well-being showed up-regulated expression of a stress-related conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA) involving increased expression of proinflammatory genes and decreased expression of genes involved in antibody synthesis and type I IFN response. In contrast, high levels of eudaimonic well-being were associated with CTRA down-regulation. Promoter-based bioinformatics implicated distinct patterns of transcription factor activity in structuring the observed differences in gene expression associated with eudaimonic well-being (reduced NF-κB and AP-1 signaling and increased IRF and STAT signaling). Transcript origin analysis identified monocytes, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and B lymphocytes as primary cellular mediators of these dynamics. The finding that hedonic and eudaimonic well-being engage distinct gene regulatory programs despite their similar effects on total well-being and depressive symptoms implies that the human genome may be more sensitive to qualitative variations in well-being than are our conscious affective experiences. |
DOI | 10.1073/pnas.1305419110 |
Alternate Journal | Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. |
PubMed ID | 23898182 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3746929 |
Grant List | P30 AG017265 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30AG107265 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 NR012899 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States R01CA116778 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States R01NR012899 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States |