title: Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prosocial behavior is linked to longevity, but few studies have experimentally manipulated prosocial behavior to identify the causal mechanisms underlying this association. One possible mediating pathway involves changes in gene expression that may subsequently influence disease development or resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current study, we examined changes in a leukocyte gene expression profile known as the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity (CTRA) in 159 adults who were randomly assigned for 4 weeks to engage in prosocial behavior directed towards specific others, prosocial behavior directed towards the world in general, self-focused kindness, or a neutral control task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Those randomized to prosocial behavior towards specific others demonstrated improvements (i.e., reductions) in leukocyte expression of CTRA indicator genes. No significant changes in CTRA gene expression were observed in the other 3 conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that prosocial behavior can causally impact leukocyte gene expression profiles in ways that might potentially help explain the previously observed health advantages associated with social ties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sewanee: The University of the South, 735 University Ave, Sewanee, TN 37383, United States. Electronic address: sknelson@sewanee.edu.
authors.forename: S Katherine
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Nelson-Coffey
authors.affiliation: University of California, Riverside, United States.
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.affiliation: University of California, Riverside, United States.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lyubomirsky
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, United States; HopeLab Foundation, United States.
authors.forename: Steve W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012919:Social Behavior; D059467:Transcriptome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Health psychology; Positive psychology; Psychoneuroimmunology