International Journal of Physical and Social Sciences
  • Year: 2015
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 5

The Mind-Body Healing Experience (MHE) Is associated with Gene Expression in Human Leukocytes

  • Author:
  • Mauro Cozzolino1, Angela Cicatelli2, Vittorio Fortino3, Francesco Guarino2, Roberto Tagliaferri3, Stefano Castiglione2, Pasquale De Luca4, Francesco Napolitano3, Giovanna Celia5, Salvatore Iannotti6, Giancarlo Raiconi3, Kathryn Rossi5,6,7, Ernest Rossi5,6,7
  • Total Page Count: 31
  • Page Number: 1 to 31

1Department of Human Sciences, Philosophy and Education, University of Salerno, Fisciano, (SA), Italy

2Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, Fisciano, (SA), Italy

3Department of Informatics, University of Salerno, Fisciano, (SA), Italy

4D4 Biogem Institute, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy and Zoological Station “A. DOHRN”, Naples, Italy

5CIPPS-International Center of Strategic Psychology and Psychotherapy, Salerno, Italy

6Mind Body Institute, Solopaca (BN), Italy 6Mind Body Institute, Solopaca, (BN), Italy

7The Milton H. Erickson Foundation of the Central California Coast

Online published on 30 December, 2015.

Abstract

This paper explores the hypothesis that a psychotherapeutic protocol, “The Mind-Body Healing Experience” (MHE), could modulate experience-dependent changes ingene expression in human white blood cells. Peripheral blood was collected just before and immediately followng administrationof the MHE to 18 individuals. Changes in experience-dependent gene expression over 1 hour and 24 hours were assessed through microarray analysis. A total of 200 genes were differentially expressed (>1.2 fold, p <0.05). After 1 hour 46 genes were differentially expressed and after 24 hours 154 genes were differentially expressed. Bioinformatic analysis revealed four significantly enriched GO term pathways (p-value <0.05): acetylation, cytosol, regulation of cell death and negative regulation of apoptosis. To validate the microarray results a subset of genes representative of specific and enriched GO pathways, or with relevant functions, were validated through RT-PCR experiments. This data demonstrated high plasticity of human immune cells and a considerable modulation of gene expression following the MHE. Genes apparently expressed in response to the MHE protocol are related to a variety of GO term pathways associated with reducing cellular stress and inflammation while supporting positive immune system functions. These findings may have important applications in therapeutic hypnosis, psychotherapy and rehabilitation.

Keywords

Psychotherapy, Microarray, MAPK signaling, NF-kB, N-Ras gene, IKBKG, Programmed cell death (PCD), PRKAR2B, Experience-Dependent Gene Expression, immune system support