Effects of obesity on neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and immune cell responses to acute psychosocial stress in premenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the neuroendocrine and immune cell responses to acute psychosocial stress in obese compared to non-obese premenopausal women.


METHODS
N=15 obese (BMI> or =30) and N=24 (BMI<30) non-obese premenopausal women underwent public speaking stress. State anxiety, ACTH, cortisol, and the redistribution of immune cells were measured before, during, and 10 and 45min after public speaking. Serum hsCRP and serum IL-6 levels were analyzed before, and IL-6 additionally 45min after stress.


RESULTS
In response to public speaking stress, both groups showed significant but comparable increases in state anxiety, plasma ACTH, and blood pressure (all p<0.01; time effects). The cortisol stress response was significantly enhanced in obese women (p<0.05; interaction effect). In addition, heart rate and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in obese women 10min following stress (p<0.05, t-tests). Public speaking stress led to a significant increase in IL-6 concentrations (p<0.001; time effect), and obese women displayed higher IL-6 levels both pre- and post-stress (p<0.05; group effect; between-group t-tests: pre-stress p<0.05; post-stress p<0.01). Baseline numbers of circulating leukocytes, granulocytes, CD3+ cells and hsCRP concentration were significantly higher in obese women (between-group t-tests: all p<0.05, but the groups did not differ in the stress-induced redistribution of circulating leukocyte subpopulations.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data reveal a strong association of obesity with chronic low-grade inflammation in premenopausal women. This pro-inflammatory state, together with altered neuroendocrine and cardiovascular stress responsiveness, may conceivably constitute one of the mechanisms linking psychological stress and the long-term health risks associated with obesity.
Department of Medical Psychology & Behavioral Immunobiology, University Clinic of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.
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Benson
Center of Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Clinic for Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Germany.
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Arck
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University Clinic of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
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Tan
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University Clinic of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
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Mann
Endokrinologische Praxis, Wuppertal, Germany.
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Hahn
Endokrinologikum Hamburg, Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Hamburg, Germany.
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Janssen
Department of Medical Psychology & Behavioral Immunobiology, University Clinic of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.
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Schedlowski
Department of Medical Psychology & Behavioral Immunobiology, University Clinic of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: sigrid.elsenbruch@uk-essen.de.
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Elsenbruch
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017697:Premenopause; D013060:Speech; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D006854:Hydrocortisone