Cited by 300Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsStress Responses and CortisolBiofield Effects and Biophysics

Rapid changes in histone deacetylases and inflammatory gene expression in expert meditators

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Kaliman, Perla, Álvarez-López, María Jesús, Cosín-Tomás, Marta, Rosenkranz, Melissa A., Lutz, Antoine, Davidson, Richard J.·2014·Psychoneuroendocrinology

Abstract

Background A growing body of research shows that mindfulness meditation can alter neural, behavioral and biochemical processes. However, the mechanisms responsible for such clinically relevant effects remain elusive.Methods Here we explored the impact of a day of intensive practice of mindfulness meditation in experienced subjects (n=19) on the expression of circadian, chromatin modulatory and inflammatory genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In parallel, we analyzed a control group of subjects with no meditation experience who engaged in leisure activities in the same environment (n=21). PBMC from all participants were obtained before (t1) and after (t2) the intervention (t2-t1=8h) and gene expression was analyzed using custom pathway focused quantitative-real time PCR assays. Both groups were also presented with the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST).Results Core clock gene expression at baseline (t1) was similar between groups and their rhythmicity was not influenced in meditators by the intensive day of practice. Similarly, we found that all the epigenetic regulatory enzymes and inflammatory genes analyzed exhibited similar basal expression levels in the two groups. In contrast, after the brief intervention we detected reduced expression of histone deacetylase genes (HDAC 2, 3 and 9), alterations in global modification of histones (H4ac; H3K4me3) and decreased expression of pro-inflammatory genes (RIPK2 and COX2) in meditators compared with controls. We found that the expression of RIPK2 and HDAC2 genes was associated with a faster cortisol recovery to the TSST in both groups.Conclusions The regulation of HDACs and inflammatory pathways may represent some of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of mindfulness-based interventions. Our findings set the foundation for future studies to further assess meditation strategies for the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.11.004

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  • Other procedures such as healthy diets, wine consumption, and flavonoid supplements are able to modify activity of certain genes, and various types of meditation and anti-stress methods are recommended to improve gene expression.

    “Other procedures such as healthy diets, wine consumption, and flavonoid supplements are able to modify activity of certain genes, and various types of mediation and anti-stress methods are recommended to improve gene expression [65,66].”

    From Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data (2018) · cites this paper as [66]

    The Introduction reports that diet can affect epigenetic processes, and the Results report reduced COX2 gene expression after a day of mindfulness meditation in experienced meditators. The paper does not address wine consumption or flavonoid supplements, and it does not recommend meditation or anti-stress methods generally to improve gene expression. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Some age-related changes in gene expression are not permanent and can be reversed.

    “It is now known that some age-related changes in gene expression are not permanent and can be reversed.”

    From Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data (2018) · cites this paper as [66]

    The Results section reports rapid gene-expression changes after a day of meditation, but does not identify them as age-related changes or show that an age-related change was reversed. A search for age-related reversal found no passage addressing that claim; the Methods mention age only as a statistical covariate. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.73)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Regular physical exercise of older humans, as little as 30 minutes daily three times a week, can reset mitochondrial human DNA to a gene expression more like that of a younger person.

    “Studies show that regular physical exercise of older humans, as little as 30 min daily three times a week, can reset mitochondrial human DNA to a gene expression more like that of a younger person.”

    From Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data (2018) · cites this paper as [66]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) mentions rapid epigenetic changes after physical exercise in human peripheral tissues, but does not describe the claimed outcome. Searches for mitochondrial DNA, a 30-minute three-times-weekly regimen, and younger-like gene expression in older people found no supporting passage in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The reduced expression of several histone deacetylase genes (HDAC 2, 3 and 9) and altered overall modification of histones (H4ac and H3K4me3) is found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

    “The reduced expression of several histone deacetylase genes (HDAC 2, 3 and 9) and the altered overall modification of histones (H4ac and H3K4me3) is found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.”
  • Advanced mindfulness meditators display changes in histone modification and chromatin-regulated gene expression after meditation.

    “Advanced mindfulness meditators display changes in histone modification and chromatin-regulated gene expression after meditation.28”

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Authors
Kaliman, P., Álvarez-López, M. J., Cosín-Tomás, M., Rosenkranz, M. A., Lutz, A., & Davidson, R. J.
Affiliations
  • Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
Corresponding author
  • Kaliman, Perla
  • Davidson, Richard J.
Venue
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-02
Volume
40
Pages
96-107
ISSN
0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2110289523
Cited by
300
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 16 · 2012: 1
FWCI
21.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • John Templeton Foundation
  • Fetzer Institute
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH018931)
  • National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (K01AT006202, P01AT004952)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P30HD003352)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biofield Effects and Biophysics
Keywords
mindfulness meditation, histone deacetylase, HDAC2, HDAC3, HDAC9, inflammatory gene expression, RIPK2, cyclooxygenase-2, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, clock genes, epigenetic regulation, histone modifications, H3K4me3, cortisol recovery, social stress, meditation training
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Histone Deacetylases, Humans, Inflammation, Male, Stress, Psychological, Inflammation Mediators, Meditation, Recovery of Function, Mindfulness

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