In a study published in the march 2011 issue

Until April 26, 2011

Men and women are very different immune responses of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, with men showing no response and women show a strong reaction in two research scientists at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and University of California , San Francisco. While robust immune response protects the body from foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses through activated response causes inflammation that can lead to such conditions as cardiovascular disease and arthritis. In a study published in the March 2011 issue of

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, the authors took blood samples in 49 men (24 with PTSD and 25 controls) and 18 women (10 with PTSD and 8 controls). Then they used the technology microchips genes to determine which genes were activated in subjectsBЂ ™ monocytes, which are immune cells that regularly cross the barrier between blood and brain, and thus give a broad picture of the immune response both in body and brain . BЂњWe searched for evidence of inflammation-induced activation of the immune system BЂ "said lead author Thomas Neylan, MD, director of PTSD in SFVAMC and professor in residence of psychiatry at UCSF. BЂњWe know that people with PTSD have higher rates of heart disease and arthritis are diseases associated chronic inflammation. We also hope that you can see which genes are expressed in PTSD might show us potential therapeutic approaches that we hadnBЂ ™ t thought. BЂ "

researchers found lasix 240 mg no evidence of increased activation of the immune system in people with PTSD compared with those without PTSD. In contrast, women with PTSD showed significant evidence of immune activation compared to women without PTSD. BЂњPrevious gene chip studies of PTSD are grouped men and women together, which gave conclusive results BЂ "says senior investigator Lynn Pulliam, MS, Ph.D., chief of microbiology at SFVAMC and professor of laboratory medicine and medicine at UCSF. BЂњThis the first time that itBЂ ™ s have shown that men and women react differently to PTSD very simple biological level. BЂ «

Neylan characterized as a conclusion BЂњunexpected. BЂ "

Researchers do not know why it seems that such a marked difference between men and women, said Neylan. However, in a study published in the January 2011 issue (posted in April 2011) magazine

markers of disease, they analyzed the data collected in the same subjects to explore one possible explanation: gender differences in the signaling pathway . BЂњWe know what model of gene expression is determined by hormones and proteins that circulate in the body, and we know that some of these hormones and proteins produced in response to signals from the brain and central nervous system BЂ "explained lead author Aoife OBЂ ™ Donovan , Ph.D., a researcher in psychiatry at SFVAMC and UCSF. BЂњThese signaling pathways used by the brain and central nervous system interact with the immune system and tell immune cells what to do. BЂ "

researchers used sophisticated software, bioinformatics, to look at three different signaling pathways associated with inflammation: NF-kappa-B, glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and CREB / ATF. In the NF-kappa-B and GR tract in men and women with PTSD, they found evidence to understand that may contribute to inflammation. In the CREB / ATF way, however, they found that OBЂ ™ Donovan called BЂњtotally contrastingBЂ "effect: men with PTSD increased signaling, which in turn could reduce the inflammation, while women with PTSD decreased signaling that may lead to more inflammation. BЂњThis particular way may be the key to gender differences in gene expression in monocytes PTSD BЂ "said Pulliam. BЂњItBЂ ™ is still very early, BЂ "warned OBЂ ™ Donovan, BЂњbut these results tell us something Bioinformatics how PTSD may increase the risk of autoimmune diseases like arthritis and heart disease, cancer and other diseases of aging . They also show us the direction of some potential targets of treatment, tell us where future investigative energy can be spent. BЂ «

Neylan said that due to small sample size, especially among women, the results of two studies suggest the reflection, not final. BЂњThe next step is to examine large groups of men and women, and we are working on it, BЂ "he said. Collaborators of the brain, behavior and immunity

research, Bing Sun, MD, PhD, and Hans Rempel, PhD, SFVAMC, Jessica Ross, MD, MS, in SFVAMC and UCSF and Mariann Lenoci, MA, of SFVAMC. Co-author of disease markers Bing Su, MD, Steve Cole, Ph.D., Los Angeles, Hans Rempel, PhD, and Mariann Lenoci, Massachusetts. Both studies were supported by grants from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs Sierra Pacific Mental Disease Research Education Clinical Center. Some of the funds administered by the Northern California Institute for Research and Education. NCIRE - Veterans Health Research Institute - the largest research institute associated with the VA Medical Center. Its mission is to improve health and well-being of veterans and the general public by supporting a world-class biomedical research program conducted at the UCSF faculty at SFVAMC. SFVAMC has the largest medical research program in the national system of VA, with over 200 researchers, all of whom are professors at UCSF. UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate level education in the life sciences and medical staff, and excellence in patient care. .