Original articleGene expression profiling in practitioners of Sudarshan Kriya
Introduction
Environmental pollution, change in lifestyle, eating habits, and rapid pace of life have increased the stress levels in individuals making them prone to various stress-related disorders. The human body is constantly under various kinds of stress and attack by reactive oxygen species (ROS) either generated by external agents or during normal metabolic process. ROS can damage cellular functions by damaging lipids, proteins, and DNA in the cell [1], [2]. Although the body is equipped with antioxidant defense in the form of glutathione, antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, the problem arises when the level of ROS increases so much that the antioxidant system of the body is not able to counteract the ROS [3]. Increasing evidence suggests that chronic psychosocial stress may increase oxidative stress, which in turn may contribute to the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases [4], [5].
Cells can transduce stress into biochemical signals. Numerous cellular functions can be influenced by the presence of stress. Several genes and pathways of stress signaling molecules are found to be activated under conditions of stress. Some of them being heat shock proteins (HSPs), mitogen-activated protein kinases, stress-activated protein kinases, and molecules involved in the oxidative stress pathway [6]. Increased levels of stress leads to various stress-related disorders. Meditation, SK, and other techniques have been known to relieve stress by causing a relaxation response, a complex compensatory mechanism. SK is a breathing technique involving breathing in three different rhythms [7]. We have shown earlier [7] that SK helps lower blood lactate levels and provides better antioxidant defense. However, the biochemical effects and the signal transduction pathways of stress removal have not been studied. In this study, an attempt has been made to study the effect of SK on antioxidant enzymes, genes involved in oxidative stress, DNA damage, cell cycle control, aging, apoptosis, and several pathways of stress signaling molecules. The objective of this study was to gather insights into the effect of SK at the transcription and protein level, especially of those genes that affect aging, apoptosis, and stress-related signaling/metabolic pathways.
From the studies described here, it is clear that SK affects multiple signal transduction pathways, including inhibition of reactive oxygen intermediates; up-regulation of heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70), glutathione S-transferase-P1 (GST-P1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2); and higher glutathione levels.
Section snippets
Study group
Blood samples were collected from 42 practitioners of Sudarshan Kriya (SK) and from 42 age- and sex-matched controls, not practicing any kind of stress management technique. The practitioners included subjects in the age range of 22–64 years, and comprised of 20 males and 22 females. The SK practitioners had been practicing SK daily for 1 h for at least 1 year. The controls and practitioners included in the study had the same socioeconomic status, had comparable body mass index, were
Effect of SK on glutathione levels, glutathione peroxidase, and SOD activity
The glutathione levels in SK practitioners were significantly higher (P<.05) as compared to those in controls. The mean±S.E.M. level of glutathione was found to be 76.7±4.06 nmol/ml in case of controls, whereas in case of practitioners, it was found to be 96.5±4.41 (n=23).
GSH-Px activity was also significantly higher in practitioners as compared to that in the practitioners. The mean±S.E.M. level of GSH-Px was found to be 5516±415 U/l in case of controls, whereas in practitioners it was found
Discussion
The health of an individual depends on stress. Stress can be social, psychological, or physical. Increasing evidence suggests that stress, especially oxidative stress, induces DNA damage and contributes to the pathophysiology of several diseases [1]. There are several pathways of stress signaling molecules; of these, the most important examples are HSPs and molecules involved in the oxidative stress pathways. Every individual is exposed to oxidative stress, and there is interindividual
Acknowledgment
This study was inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. This work was carried out in collaboration with Ved Vigyan Mahavidyapeeth. We acknowledge them for their support and the active participation of Delhi chapter of Art of Living. Financial support was provided by Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Ms Himani Sharma is grateful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India, for Senior Research Fellowship.
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