Personality and gene expression: do individual differences exist in the leukocyte transcriptome?

Vedhara, Kavita; Gill, Sana; Eldesouky, Lameese; Campbell, Bruce K.; Arevalo, Jesusa M.G.; Ma, Jeffrey; Cole, Steven W.

Abstract

Background
The temporal and situational stability of personality has led generations of researchers to hypothesize that personality may have enduring effects on health, but the biological mechanisms of such relationships remain poorly understood. In the present study, we utilized a functional genomics approach to examine the relationship between the 5 major dimensions of personality and patterns of gene expression as predicted by ‘behavioural immune response’ theory. We specifically focussed on two sets of genes previously linked to stress, threat, and adverse socio-environmental conditions: pro-inflammatory genes and genes involved in Type I interferon and antibody responses.

Methods
An opportunity sample of 121 healthy individuals was recruited (86 females; mean age 24 years). Individuals completed a validated measure of personality; questions relating to current health behaviours; and provided a 5 ml sample of peripheral blood for gene expression analysis.

Results
Extraversion was associated with increased expression of pro-inflammatory genes and Conscientiousness was associated with reduced expression of pro-inflammatory genes. Both associations were independent of health behaviours, negative affect, and leukocyte subset distributions. Antiviral and antibody-related gene expression was not associated with any personality dimension.

Conclusions
The present data shed new light on the long-observed epidemiological associations between personality, physical health, and human longevity. Further research is required to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying these associations.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 27, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Nov 11, 2015
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Aug 7, 2018
• Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology
• Print ISSN: 0306-4530
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-3360
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 52
• Pages: 72-82
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.10.028
• Public URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453014004168
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453014004168