Title | Contemporaneous Social Environment and the Architecture of Late-Life Gene Expression Profiles. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2017 |
Authors | Levine, ME, Crimmins, EM, Weir, DR, Cole, SW |
Journal | American Journal of Epidemiology |
Volume | 186 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | 503-509 |
ISSN Number | 1476-6256 |
Keywords | Genetics, Socioeconomic factors |
Abstract | Environmental or social challenges can stimulate a cascade of coordinated physiological changes in stress response systems. Unfortunately, chronic activation of these adaptations under conditions such as low socioeconomic status (SES) can have negative consequences for long-term health. While there is substantial evidence tying low SES to increased disease risk and reduced life expectancy, the underlying biology remains poorly understood. Using pilot data on 120 older adults from the Health and Retirement Study (United States, 2002-2010), we examined the associations between SES and gene expression levels in adulthood, with particular focus on a gene expression program known as the conserved transcriptional response to adversity. We also used a bioinformatics-based approach to assess the activity of specific gene regulation pathways involved in inflammation, antiviral responses, and stress-related neuroendocrine signaling. We found that low SES was related to increased expression of conserved transcriptional response to adversity genes and distinct patterns of proinflammatory, antiviral, and stress signaling (e.g., sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) transcription factor activation. |
DOI | 10.1093/aje/kwx147 |
User Guide Notes | |
Alternate Journal | Am. J. Epidemiol. |
Citation Key | 9326 |
PubMed ID | 28911009 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC5860329 |
Grant List | K99 AG052604 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States U01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States T32 AG000037 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States T32 NS048004 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States P30 AG017265 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |