This paper explores the hypothesis that a psychotherapeutic protocol, “The Mind-Body Healing Experience” (MHE), could modulate experience-dependent changes ingene expression in human white blood cells. Peripheral blood was collected just before and immediately followng administrationof the MHE to 18 individuals. Changes in experience-dependent gene expression over 1 hour and 24 hours were assessed through microarray analysis. A total of 200 genes were differentially expressed (>1.2 fold, p <0.05). After 1 hour 46 genes were differentially expressed and after 24 hours 154 genes were differentially expressed. Bioinformatic analysis revealed four significantly enriched GO term pathways (p-value <0.05): acetylation, cytosol, regulation of cell death and negative regulation of apoptosis. To validate the microarray results a subset of genes representative of specific and enriched GO pathways, or with relevant functions, were validated through RT-PCR experiments. This data demonstrated high plasticity of human immune cells and a considerable modulation of gene expression following the MHE. Genes apparently expressed in response to the MHE protocol are related to a variety of GO term pathways associated with reducing cellular stress and inflammation while supporting positive immune system functions. These findings may have important applications in therapeutic hypnosis, psychotherapy and rehabilitation.

The mind-body healing experience (mhe) is associated with gene expression in human leukocytes

Napolitano, Francesco
Formal Analysis
;
Celia, Giovanna
Supervision
;
2015-01-01

Abstract

This paper explores the hypothesis that a psychotherapeutic protocol, “The Mind-Body Healing Experience” (MHE), could modulate experience-dependent changes ingene expression in human white blood cells. Peripheral blood was collected just before and immediately followng administrationof the MHE to 18 individuals. Changes in experience-dependent gene expression over 1 hour and 24 hours were assessed through microarray analysis. A total of 200 genes were differentially expressed (>1.2 fold, p <0.05). After 1 hour 46 genes were differentially expressed and after 24 hours 154 genes were differentially expressed. Bioinformatic analysis revealed four significantly enriched GO term pathways (p-value <0.05): acetylation, cytosol, regulation of cell death and negative regulation of apoptosis. To validate the microarray results a subset of genes representative of specific and enriched GO pathways, or with relevant functions, were validated through RT-PCR experiments. This data demonstrated high plasticity of human immune cells and a considerable modulation of gene expression following the MHE. Genes apparently expressed in response to the MHE protocol are related to a variety of GO term pathways associated with reducing cellular stress and inflammation while supporting positive immune system functions. These findings may have important applications in therapeutic hypnosis, psychotherapy and rehabilitation.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11369/386428
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact