To assess, to control, to exclude: effects of biobehavioral factors on circulating inflammatory markers.
Behavioral scientists have increasingly included inflammatory biology as mechanisms in their investigation of psychosocial dynamics on the pathobiology of disease. However, a lack of standardization of inclusion and exclusion criteria and assessment of relevant control variables impacts the interpretation of these studies. The present paper reviews and discusses human biobehavioral factors that can affect the measurement of circulating markers of inflammation. Keywords relevant to inflammatory biology and biobehavioral factors were searched through PubMed. Age, sex, and hormonal status, socioeconomic status, ethnicity and race, body mass index, exercise, diet, caffeine, smoking, alcohol, sleep disruption, antidepressants, aspirin, and medications for cardiovascular disease are all reviewed. A tiered set of recommendations as to whether each variable should be assessed, controlled for, or used as an exclusion criteria is provided. These recommendations provide a framework for observational and intervention studies investigating linkages between psychosocial and behavioral factors and inflammation.
O'Connor
Mary-Frances
MF
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California at Los Angeles, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. mfoconnor@mednet.ucla.edu
Bower
Julie E
JE
Cho
Hyong Jin
HJ
Creswell
J David
JD
Dimitrov
Stoyan
S
Hamby
Mary E
ME
Hoyt
Michael A
MA
Martin
Jennifer L
JL
Robles
Theodore F
TF
Sloan
Erica K
EK
Thomas
Kamala S
KS
Irwin
Michael R
MR
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D018579:Patient Selection; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha