Faculty Profiles - OHIRA, Hideki

Association of polymorphism in the human μ-opioid receptor <i>OPRM1</i> gene with proinflammatory cytokine levels and health perception

Matsunaga, M; Isowa, T; Murakami, H; Kasugai, K; Yoneda, M; Kaneko, H; Ohira, H

BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY Vol. 23 ( 7 ) page： 931 - 935 2009.10

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

Recent studies in psychoneuroimmunology have indicated that proinflammatory cytokines cause several diseases and behaviors that overlap symptomatically with depression. It is known that the endogenous opioid peptide β-endorphin regulates proinflammatory cytokine secretion from peripheral immune cells via μ-opioid receptor-dependent mechanisms. Therefore, it is possible that the functional polymorphism of the μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1, SNP: A118G) influences peripheral circulating proinflammatory cytokine levels and the health-related quality of life (QOL) even in healthy populations. In this study, we compared the serum concentrations of several proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)) and the health-related QOL between OPRM1 genotypes. Interestingly, serum concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were significantly lower and the general health score was significantly higher in carriers of the G allele, who show a strong binding of β-endorphin to the μ-opioid receptor as compared to individuals without the G allele. Correlation analysis indicated that the general health score was negatively correlated with the IL-6 serum concentration. These results suggest that the sensitive endogenous opioid system in carriers of the G allele may suppress proinflammatory cytokine secretion from peripheral immune cells; consequently, it may influence the health perception. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.bbi.2009.03.007

Profiling of serum proteins influenced by warm partner contact in healthy couples

Cardiac responses predict decisions: an investigation of the relation between orienting response and decisions in the ultimatum game Reviewed

Osumi T, Ohira H

International Journal of Psychophysiology Vol. 74 ( 1 ) page： 74-79 2009.10

Cardiac responses predict decisions: an investigation of the relation between orienting response and decisions in the ultimatum game Reviewed

Osumi T, Ohira H

International Journal of Psychophysiology Vol. 74 ( 1 ) page： 74-79 2009.10

Matsunaga M., Sato S., Isowa T., Tsuboi H., Konagaya T., Kaneko H., Ohira H.

Neuroendocrinology Letters Vol. 30 ( 2 ) page： 227 - 236 2009.9

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Neuroendocrinology Letters

OBJECTIVES: Warm physical contact may positively influence our health and well-being; however, it has not been investigated yet whether serum proteins are influenced by warm physical contact in healthy couples. In this study, we focused on psychological and physiological effects of warm partner contact in healthy couples. METHODS: When participants freely kissed and hugged their romantic partners, they were asked to subjectively evaluate their present emotions. Furthermore, changes of serum proteins were determined by using ProteinChip surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). We characterized these proteins by using biochemical techniques combined with gel filtration high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), reverse-phase HPLC, and sequencing analyses. RESULTS: Romantic couples became happier and less irritated after kissing and hugging. Accompanying these psychological changes, SELDI-TOF-MS indicated that the intensities of 66-k Da, 11.7-k Da, and 5.9-k Da serum proteins were increased. These proteins were identified as serum albumin and β2- microglobulin, and probably fibrinogen fragment. The feeling of happiness positively correlated and the feeling of irritation negatively correlated with intensities of serum albumin and β2-microglobulin. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that psychological stress may be reduced and we may feel happiness when we kiss and hug a romantic partner. Furthermore, these results also suggest that warm partner contact influences peripheral circulating proteins, more importantly, may promote health and well-being. Copyright © 2009 Neuroendocrinology Letters.

Transient responses of inflammatory cytokines in acute stress

Yamakawa Kaori, Matsunaga Masahiro, Isowa Tokiko, Kimura Kenta, Kasugai Kunio, Yoneda Masashi, Kaneko Hiroshi, Ohira Hideki

BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY Vol. 82 ( 1 ) page： 25 - 32 2009.9

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Biological Psychology

It has been demonstrated that concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are elevated by acute stress. Although several studies confirmed robust changes in IL-6, how acute stress affects other cytokines was less clear. Therefore, the present study simultaneously examined the effects of acute stress on several pro-inflammatory cytokines. Sixteen male participants were given the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Blood samples were collected at baseline, immediately after, and 30, 60, and 90 min after the TSST. IL-1β significantly increased immediately after the TSST and returned to the baseline level after 30 min. Additionally, this elevation of IL-1β was correlated with the perceived intensity of stress. These results showed that the concentration of IL-1β is rapidly regulated, and that elevation of the IL-1β level could possibly be attributed to transient mobilization of monocytes caused by sympathetic nervous activation. Moreover, a transient increase of IL-1β might be conveyed to the brain and play a role in forming negative emotional states. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2009.05.001

Regulation of natural killer cell redistribution by prefrontal cortex during stochastic learning

THE STRUCTURE OF THE MINDFUL BRAIN

Murakami Hiroki, Nakao Takashi, Matsunaga Masahiro, Kasuya Yukinori, Shinoda Jun, Yamada Jitsuhiro, Ohira Hideki

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY Vol. 46 page： S41 - S41 2009.9

Ohira Hideki, Fukuyama Seisuke, Kimura Kenta, Nomura Michio, Isowa Tokiko, Ichikawa Nacho, Matsunaga Masahiro, Shinoda Jun, Yamada Jitsuhiro

NEUROIMAGE Vol. 47 ( 3 ) page： 897 - 907 2009.9

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：NeuroImage

Acute stress elicits redistribution of lymphocyte subsets, especially natural killer (NK) cells, probably for preparatory defense against potential invasion of antigens in fight-flight situations. We previously reported that regulation of lymphocyte redistribution is based on the evaluation of the controllability of a stressor (Kimura, K., Ohira, H., Isowa, T., Matsunaga, M., Murashima, S. 2007. Regulation of lymphocytes redistribution via autonomic nervous activity during stochastic learning. Brain Behav. Immun. 21, 921-934; Ohira, H., Isowa, T., Nomura, M., Ichikawa, N., Kimura, K., Miyakoshi, M., Iidaka, T., Fukuyama, S., Nakajima, T., Yamada, J. 2008. Imaging brain and immune association accompanying cognitive appraisal of an acute stressor. Neuroimage 39, 500-514). Specifially, lymphocyte redistribution is somewhat attenuated when a stressor is uncontrollable, probably to save biological energy in a situation where appropriate coping is unclear. We infer that this phenomenon might reflect top-down regulation over peripheral immune function by higher-ordered brain regions. To investigate the neural basis of such a phenomenon, we simultaneously recorded regional cerebral blood flow using 15O-water positron emission tomography and cardiovascular (blood pressure and heart rate), neuroendocrine (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and adrenocorticotropic hormone), and immune (proportions of NK cells and helper T cells in blood) indices in 16 male subjects who performed a stochastic learning task with manipulation of controllability (controllable vs. uncontrollable). Consistent with previous studies, the proportion of peripheral NK cells was attenuated in an uncontrollable stress condition. The dorsolateral prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices were activated in the uncontrollable situation but not in the controllable condition, and additionally, these prefrontal brain regions significantly correlated with the degree of redistribution of NK cells in the uncontrollable condition. The results of the study suggest these brain regions are involved in both evaluation of the controllability of a stressor and regulation of immune function. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.04.088