Bryant Emma M, Richardson Rick, Graham Bronwyn M
University of New South Wales, School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Chronic Stress (Thousand Oaks). 2022 Jul 18;6:24705470221114787. doi: 10.1177/24705470221114787. eCollection 2022 Jan-Dec.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) is a neurotrophic protein that has been implicated as a biomarker for anxiety and depressive disorders, which comprise a significant component of the global burden of disease. Research using rodents has indicated that FGF2 is part of the stress response, but whether this translates to humans has yet to be investigated. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential role of FGF2 in the human stress response by examining its association with physiological and psychological processes during and following the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST).
Participants in the active stress experiment (N = 87) underwent the TSST, provided saliva samples to obtain levels of cortisol and FGF2, and reported on post-event rumination related to the TSST task over the following week. Participants in the no-stress experiment (N = 25) provided saliva samples for measurement of FGF2 and cortisol across a corresponding time period.
Salivary FGF2 levels changed after the TSST and were associated with the pattern of change in salivary cortisol. Cortisol responses in the active stress condition were blunted in females (relative to males), however, sex did not interact with any other effect. FGF2 reactivity (ie, the magnitude of change over time) was not correlated with cortisol reactivity. Lower FGF2 reactivity following the TSST, but not overall FGF2 levels, or cortisol, was associated with higher fear of negative evaluation, repetitive negative thinking and post-event processing, as well as repetitive negative thinking in the week following the TSST. Participants in the no-stress experiment showed a decrease in cortisol, yet no change in their FGF2 levels.
These findings suggest that FGF2 is involved in the human stress response and higher levels of FGF2 reactivity may be associated with protective cognitive processes following stress exposure.
成纤维细胞生长因子2（FGF2）是一种神经营养蛋白，被认为是焦虑和抑郁障碍的生物标志物，而焦虑和抑郁障碍是全球疾病负担的重要组成部分。对啮齿动物的研究表明，FGF2是应激反应的一部分，但这是否适用于人类还有待研究。在本研究中，我们旨在通过检查FGF2与特里尔社会应激测试（TSST）期间及之后的生理和心理过程的关联，来探索其在人类应激反应中的潜在作用。
主动应激实验的参与者（N = 87）接受了TSST，提供唾液样本以获取皮质醇和FGF2水平，并在接下来的一周内报告与TSST任务相关的事后反刍情况。无应激实验的参与者（N = 25）在相应时间段内提供唾液样本以测量FGF2和皮质醇。
TSST后唾液FGF2水平发生变化，并与唾液皮质醇的变化模式相关。在主动应激条件下，女性的皮质醇反应减弱（相对于男性），然而，性别与任何其他效应均无相互作用。FGF2反应性（即随时间的变化幅度）与皮质醇反应性无关。TSST后较低的FGF2反应性，而非总体FGF2水平或皮质醇，与更高的负面评价恐惧、重复性负面思维和事后处理相关，以及与TSST后一周内的重复性负面思维相关。无应激实验的参与者皮质醇水平下降，但其FGF2水平没有变化。
这些发现表明，FGF2参与了人类应激反应，较高水平的FGF2反应性可能与应激暴露后的保护性认知过程相关。
