TY - JOUR
T1 - The relationship between immune fitness and saliva biomarkers of systemic inflammation
AU - Mulder, Kiki EW
AU - van Oostrom, Evi C.
AU - Verheul, Marjolijn CE
AU - Hendriksen, Pauline A.
AU - Thijssen, Suzan
AU - Diks, Mara AP
AU - Kraneveld, Aletta D.
AU - Garssen, Johan
AU - Verster, Joris C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - Purpose: It is vital that Immune fitness, i.e., how well the immune system functions and reacts to challenges, can be reliably be examined. The current study aimed to compare immune fitness with assessments of saliva biomarkers of systemic inflammation. Methods: N = 108 healthy young adults (18–30-year-old students of Utrecht University, the Netherlands) participated in the study. A saliva sample was collected for biomarker assessment (Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and c-reactive protein (CRP). Additionally, a survey was completed to assess immune fitness, mood, mental resilience, and quality of life. The correlations between the biomarker assessments, immune fitness and mood were determined. Results: No significant correlations between immune fitness and biomarkers of systemic inflammation were found. Significant sex differences in correlations with immune fitness were demonstrated for loneliness (significant only in men) and fatigue (significant only in women). For both sexes, immune fitness correlated significantly with anxiety, mental resilience, and quality of life. Conclusion: No significant correlations were found between immune fitness and saliva biomarkers of systemic inflammation. Immune fitness correlated significantly with anxiety, mental resilience, and quality of life. Sex differences were demonstrated in the relation of immune fitness with loneliness and fatigue. Future research should further investigate factors that may influence the relationship between immune fitness, mood, and biomarkers of systemic inflammation, including underlying psychological mechanisms of possible sex differences.
AB - Purpose: It is vital that Immune fitness, i.e., how well the immune system functions and reacts to challenges, can be reliably be examined. The current study aimed to compare immune fitness with assessments of saliva biomarkers of systemic inflammation. Methods: N = 108 healthy young adults (18–30-year-old students of Utrecht University, the Netherlands) participated in the study. A saliva sample was collected for biomarker assessment (Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and c-reactive protein (CRP). Additionally, a survey was completed to assess immune fitness, mood, mental resilience, and quality of life. The correlations between the biomarker assessments, immune fitness and mood were determined. Results: No significant correlations between immune fitness and biomarkers of systemic inflammation were found. Significant sex differences in correlations with immune fitness were demonstrated for loneliness (significant only in men) and fatigue (significant only in women). For both sexes, immune fitness correlated significantly with anxiety, mental resilience, and quality of life. Conclusion: No significant correlations were found between immune fitness and saliva biomarkers of systemic inflammation. Immune fitness correlated significantly with anxiety, mental resilience, and quality of life. Sex differences were demonstrated in the relation of immune fitness with loneliness and fatigue. Future research should further investigate factors that may influence the relationship between immune fitness, mood, and biomarkers of systemic inflammation, including underlying psychological mechanisms of possible sex differences.
KW - Assessment
KW - c-reactive protein
KW - Cytokines
KW - Immune fitness
KW - Immunoglobulin A
KW - Sex differences
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85164321065&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100660
DO - 10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100660
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85164321065
SN - 2666-3546
VL - 31
JO - Brain, Behavior, and Immunity - Health
JF - Brain, Behavior, and Immunity - Health
M1 - 100660
ER -