Psychiatry Investig.  2017 Jul;14(4):483-490. 10.4306/pi.2017.14.4.483.

Effects of Mind-Body Training on Cytokines and Their Interactions with Catecholamines

• Jang JH
• Park HY
• Lee US
• Lee KJ
• Kang DH

• KMID: 2387140
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2017.14.4.483

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Mind-body training (MBT) may control reactions to stress and regulate the nervous and immune systems. The present study was designed to assess the effects of MBT on plasma cytokines and their interactions with catecholamines.
METHODS
The study group consisted of 80 subjects who practice MBT and a control group of 62 healthy subjects. Plasma catecholamine (norepinephrine, NE; epinephrine, E; and dopamine, DA) and cytokine (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma, and IL-10) levels were measured, and the differences between the MBT and control groups and the interactions of cytokines with catecholamines were investigated.
RESULTS
A significant increase in IL-10+IFN-gamma was found in females of the MBT group compared with controls. Also, a significant increase of IL-10 (anti-inflammatory cytokine) in the MBT group was shown in a specific condition in which TNF-alpha and IL-6 (pro-inflammatory cytokines) are almost absent (≤1 ng/L) compared with controls. In the MBT group, significant positive correlations were found between IL-10 and the NE/E ratio and between IL-10 and the DA/E ratio, whereas the control group did not show any such correlations.
CONCLUSION
MBT may increase IL-10, under specific conditions such as a decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines or E, which may regulate the stress response and possibly contribute to effective and beneficial interactions between the nervous and immune systems.

Keyword

Mind-body training; Stress; Cytokines; Catecholamines

MeSH Terms

Catecholamines*
Cytokines*
Dopamine
Epinephrine
Female
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Immune System
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-6
Plasma
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Catecholamines
Cytokines
Dopamine
Epinephrine
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-6
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha