Rapid changes of miRNAs-20, -30, −410, −515, −134, and −183 and telomerase with psychological activity: A one year study on the relaxation response and epistemological considerations

Authors
Carlo Dal Lin, Mariela Marinova, Laura Brugnolo, Giorio Rubino, Mario Plebani, Sabino Iliceto, Francesco Tona
Publication
Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine
Volume 11, Issue 5
Abstract

Background and aim

Mental stress represents a pivotal factor in cardiovascular diseases. The mechanism by which stress produces its deleterious effects is still under study, but one of the most explored pathways is inflammation-aging and cell senescence. In this scenario, circulating microRNAs appear to be regulatory elements of the telomerase activity and alternative splicing within the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer (NF-κB) network. Anti-stress techniques appeared to be able to slow down the inflammatory and aging processes. As we recently verified, the practice of the relaxation response (RR) counteracted psychological stress and determined favorable changes of the NF-κB, p53, and toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) gene expression and in neurotransmitters, hormones, cytokines, and inflammatory circulating microRNAs. We aimed to verify a possible change in the serum levels of six other micro-RNAs of cardiovascular interest, involved in cell senescence and in the NF-κB network (miRNAs −20, −30, −410, −515, −134, and −183), and tested the activity of telomerase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Experimental procedure

We measured the aforementioned molecules in the serum of patients with ischemic heart disease (and healthy controls) immediately before and after a relaxation response session, three times (after the baseline), in one year of follow-up.

Results

According to our data, the miRNA-20 and -30 levels and PBMCs-telomerase activity increased during the RR while the −410 and −515 levels decreased. During the RR sessions, both miRNA-134 and -183 decreased.

Conclusion

The mediators considered in this exploratory work appeared to vary rapidly with the psychological activity (in particular when focused on relaxation techniques) showing that psychological activity should be part of the future research on epigenetics. Epistemological perspectives are also discussed.

Related Listings
Meditation and psychotherapy: a rationale for t...
Authors
I Kutz, J Z Borysenko, H Benson
Journal
The American Journal of Psychiatry
·
A framework for the integration of meditation and psychotherapy is presented through a consideration of the psychobiological nature of meditation (the relaxation response) and discussion of a traditional meditation practice (mindfulness meditation) as an effective cognitive technique for the development of self-awareness. The mechanisms by which the emotional and cognitive changes of meditation can be of therapeutic value are explored and the synergistic advantages of the combination […]
Mind-body medicine: a model of the comparative ...
Authors
Jeffery A. Dusek, Herbert Benson
Journal
Minn Med.
Although the physiological and biochemical changes that occur during the acute stress response have been well-characterized, the contrasting changes that underlie the relaxation response evoked by various mind-body techniques are less understood. To help guide future mind-body research, we present a conceptual model that integrates patterns of change at the physiological and molecular levels. In addition, we point to future research opportunities and discuss how repeated elicitation o […]
Decreased Alcohol Intake Associated with the Pr...
Authors
Herbert Benson
Journal
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
·
A wakeful hypometabolic state accompanies the practice of a relaxational, meditation technique called Transcendental Meditation. The state is characterized by decreased oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide elimination, respiratory rate and minute ventilation, with no change in respiratory quotient. Arterial blood pH and base excess decrease slightly while arterial blood lactate markedly decreases. Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures remain unchanged. The electroenceph […]