title: The effect of self-reported health on latent herpesvirus reactivation and inflammation in an ethnically diverse sample.
abstract: Self-rated health (SRH) is a reliable predictor of health outcomes including morbidity and mortality. Immune dysregulation is one hypothesized mechanism underlying the association between SRH and health outcomes. Indeed, poorer SRH is associated with greater inflammation. The association between SRH and reactivation of latent herpesviruses is unknown, representing an important gap in the literature given that reactivation of latent herpesviruses leads to enhanced inflammation. The present study addressed this important gap in the literature by examining associations between SRH, inflammation (i.e., peripheral cytokines in the blood), and reactivation of latent herpesviruses among a sample of 1208 individuals participating in the Texas City Stress and Health Study. Participants completed a self-report measure of SRH and a blood draw. Results indicated that higher SRH was associated with lower reactivation of latent herpesviruses and inflammation. Moreover, reactivation of latent herpesviruses partially mediated the association between SRH and inflammation. Accordingly, findings add to our growing understanding of the association between SRH and immune dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Kyle W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Murdock
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA; Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 1450, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza - BCM350, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: christopher.fagundes@rice.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Fagundes
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventative Medicine and Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: M Kristen
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Peek
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Vansh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vohra
authors.affiliation: Microgen Laboratories, 903 Texas Avenue, La Marque, TX 77568, USA.
authors.forename: Raymond P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Stowe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013781:Texas / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Cytomegalovirus; Epstein-Barr virus; Inflammation; Self-rated health