Role of Inflammatory Liability in Modifying the Relationship Between Stressful Life Events and Depressive Symptomology

Lauren Gaydosh , Vanderbilt University
Steve Cole, University of California, Los Angeles
Michael J. Shanahan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Brandt Levitt, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Kathleen Mullan Harris, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

There is a large literature documenting a robust association between major stressful life events and depression and depressive symptoms. While inflammation has been suggested as a potential biological mechanism linking stressful life exposures and depression, this link remains unclear. In this paper, we used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to test the role of inflammatory liability in moderating the link between stressful life events and depressive symptomology. We found preliminary evidence that the increase in depressive symptoms associated with greater cumulative stressful life events is steeper for individuals with a gene expression profile of increase inflammatory liability.

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 Presented in Session 232. Gene-Environment Interaction and Health