TABLE 2.
Studies Investigating the Association of Psychosocial Stressors and Emotional States With Mitochondria in Humans
| Author | Year | Reference | Sex | Stressor | Assessment | Tissue | Mito Outcome | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeck et al.a | 2016 | (91) | ♀ | ACE (severity) | Self-report | PBMCs (frozen) | Cellular respiration | Higher cellular respiration in women with severe CTQ scores, positively correlated with inflammatory markers IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα |
| Cai et al. | 2015 | (52) | ♀ | ACE, SLE, PD (yes, no) | SCID, self-report | Whole blood | mtDNAcn | Higher mtDNAcn with life history of depression and childhood trauma |
| Cai et al. | 2015 | (75) | ♀ | ACE, SLE, PD (yes, no) | SCID, self-report | Whole blood | mtDNA mutations | Higher mtDNA heteroplasmy (mutation load) in depressed individuals versus controls |
| Lindqvist et al. | 2016 | (92) | ♀,♂ | Suicide attempt (yes, no) | SCID | Plasma | ccf-mtDNA | Elevated levels of ccf-mtDNA in suicide attempters versus controls |
| Picard et al.a | 2018 | (93) | ♀ | Caregiving status (yes, no), daily mood (positive, negative) | SCID, self-report | PBMCs | RC enzyme activity and protein, mtDNAcn | Lower MHI in caregivers versus controls, highest effect size for CIV, mediated by positive mood; no difference in mtDNAcn or mitochondrial content |
| Tyrka et al. | 2015 | (94) | ♀,♂ | ACE, PD (yes, no) | SCID, self-report | Whole blood | mtDNAcn | Higher mtDNAcn with both psychopathology (mixed types) and childhood trauma |
ACE = adverse childhood experiences (includes trauma measured by the CTQ and other early life stressors); PBMCs = peripheral blood mononuclear cells; CTQ = Childhood Trauma Questionnaire; IL-1β = interleukin 1β; IL-6 = interleukin 6; TNFα = tumor necrosis factor α; SLE = stressful life events; PD = psychiatric disorders (includes anxiety, major depression, bipolar, posttraumatic stress, and substance abuse); SCID = Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III/IV; mtDNAcn = mitochondrial DNA copy number; ccf-mtDNA = circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA; RC = respiratory chain, also electron transport chain; MHI = mitochondrial health index; CIV = respiratory chain complex IV, cytochrome c oxidase.
Denotes studies reporting functional mitochondrial outcomes.