Emotions may influence the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in HIV positive individuals

Rationale : Emotions have been associated with production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6; more precisely, negative emotions with greater cytokines level whereas positive emotions with lower level of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This may have significant repercussions on individuals’ health specifically for those who are subjected to chronic inflammation as in the case of HIV positive persons. In fact, HIV virus itself produces greater TNF-alpha production, which in its turns might promote greater IL-6 levels. Thus, this work was conducted in order to verify whether along with HIV association with pro-inflammatory cytokines production, negative and positive emotions, as well as their “balance”, might be associated with cytokines level. Methods : Participants to this cross-sectional study were 90 individuals with HIV diagnosis. Emotions were assessed through the Italian version of Derogatis Affects Balance Scale edited by the first two authors of this work. The biomarkers included were viral load, TNF-alpha, and IL-6. Individuals also self-reported whether they were under antiretroviral therapy. Results : A Structural Equation Model was performed in order to test if negative and positive emotions and their balance (that consisted in the ratio of positive/negative emotions) along with viral load were associated with cytokines level. Results indicated that viral load (β = 0.538, p<0.001), negative emotions (β = 0.366, p<0.05) and positive/negative emotions (β = − 0.420, p<0.05) ratio were significantly associated with greater TNF-alpha production. No significant associations were observed with IL-6. Conclusion : Taken together, these results may indicate that together with virus effect in producing greater inflammation, emotions may also contribute to it. Negative emotions could then promote greater inflammation whereas, when individuals experience more positive emotions than negative, inflammation might be reduced