Recreational music-making modulates the human stress response: a preliminary individualized gene expression strategy.
BACKGROUND
A central component of the complex human biological stress response is the modulation of the neuro-endocrine-immune system with its intricate feedback loops that support homeostatic regulation. Well-documented marked gene expression variability among human and animal subjects coupled with sample collection timing and delayed effects, as well as a host of molecular detection challenges renders the quest for deciphering the human biological stress response challenging from many perspectives.


METHODS
A novel Recreational Music-Making (RMM) program was used in combination with a new strategy for peripheral blood gene expression analysis to assess individualized genomic stress induction signatures. The expression of 45 immune response-related genes was determined using a multiplex preamplification step prior to conventional quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) mRNA analysis to characterize the multidimensional biological impact of a 2-phase controlled stress induction/amelioration experimental protocol in 32 randomly assigned individuals.


RESULTS
In subjects performing the RMM activity following a 1-hour stress induction protocol, 19 out of 45 markers demonstrated reversal with significant (P = 0.05) Pearson correlations in contrast to 6 out of 45 markers in the resting control group and 0 out of 45 in the ongoing stressor group.


CONCLUSIONS
The resultant amelioration of stress-induced genomic expression supports the underlying premise that RMM warrants additional consideration as a rational choice within our armamentarium of stress reduction strategies. Modulation of individualized genomic stress induction signatures in peripheral blood presents a new opportunity for elucidating the dynamics of the human stress response.
Bittman
Barry
B
Meadville Medical Center, Mind-Body Wellness Center, Meadville, PA 16335, USA. doctorb@mind-body.org
Berk
Lee
L
Shannon
Mark
M
Sharaf
Muhammad
M
Westengard
Jim
J
Guegler
Karl J
KJ
Ruff
David W
DW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music / Q000523:psychology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger