title: Effort-reward-imbalance in healthy teachers is associated with higher LPS-stimulated production and lower glucocorticoid sensitivity of interleukin-6 in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to the effort-reward-imbalance (ERI) model, a lack of reciprocity between costs and gains at work increases the risk for adverse health outcomes. Inflammation has been shown to play a crucial role in a variety of stress-related diseases and alterations in immune system glucocorticoid sensitivity may help to explain the increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression related to chronic work stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced interleukin (IL)-6 production and inhibition of IL-6 production by dexamethasone in reaction to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) were assessed in forty-six healthy school teachers to test whether chronic work stress is accompanied by alterations in inflammatory activity and glucocorticoid sensitivity of the innate immune system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High ERI was associated with an increase in pro-inflammatory potential, reflected in elevated IL-6 production before and after stress and with a lower capacity of dexamethasone to suppress IL-6 production in vitro over all measurement time points. ERI was not associated with stress-related changes in GC sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest a less effective anti-inflammatory regulation by glucocorticoids in teachers suffering from chronic work stress.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Berliner Platz 6-8, 45127 Essen, Germany. silja.bellingrath@uni-due.de
authors.forename: Silja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellingrath
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rohleder
authors.forename: Brigitte M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kudielka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012201:Reward; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D003907:Dexamethasone