Nicolas Rohleder | Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (original) (raw)

Papers by Nicolas Rohleder

Research paper thumbnail of 12. Low stress system activity and high peripheral inflammation in female competitive ballroom dancers

Brain Behavior and Immunity

Chronic stress has been linked with detrimental health effects. The present study aimed to invest... more Chronic stress has been linked with detrimental health effects. The present study aimed to investigate consequences of repeated strong stress system activation without habituation on stress system and inflammatory status in highly experienced competitive ballroom dancers. Ballroom dancing served as a model for repeated, non-habituating social-evaluative and physical stress. We recruited 20 highly experienced young ballroom dancers and 20 controls of both sexes. Participants collected five saliva samples throughout an ordinary day (no competitive activities) to assess cortisol (cort) and alpha-amylase (sAA) levels as markers of the activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system, respectively. Further, participants provided a blood sample to determine basal interleukin- (IL-) 6 levels. ANOVAs revealed significant lower cort and sAA daily output in dancers compared to controls (cort: p = .007; sAA: p = .015) while there was no effect of sex...

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Research paper thumbnail of Psychoendokrinologische und -immunologische Veränderungen während der Lebensspanne

Psychoendokrinologie und Psychoimmunologie, 2011

ABSTRACT Das endokrine System und das Immunsystem stellen zusammen mit dem Zentralnervensystem (Z... more ABSTRACT Das endokrine System und das Immunsystem stellen zusammen mit dem Zentralnervensystem (ZNS) drei weitverzweigte Kommunikationsnetze unseres Organismus dar, über die zahlreiche Körperfunktionen gesteuert und überwacht werden. Während das ZNS elektrische Impulse generiert um Informationen innerhalb des ZNS zu verarbeiten und von Neuronen an nachgeordnete Körperzellen weiterzuleiten, produziert das endokrine System Hormone, welche als Botenstoff e des Körpers agieren. In enger Zusammenarbeit mit dem ZNS steuert das endokrine System nicht nur die offensichtlichen phänotypischen Entwicklungen des Menschen über die Lebensspanne, sondern es ist auch maßgeblich an der Veränderung funktioneller Eigenschaft en beteiligt. Das Immunsystem muss parallel mit sowohl zellulären und humoralen Abwehrprozessen dafür sorgen, dass die Integrität des Organismus in der Auseinandersetzung mit potenziell schädigenden Fremdkörpern (Antigenen) im sich entwickelnden bzw. alternden Menschen aufrechterhalten wird.

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Research paper thumbnail of Stress system regulation of chronic low-grade inflammation

Advances in Neuroimmune Biology, 2012

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Research paper thumbnail of Measures of adiposity predict interleukin-6 responses to repeated psychosocial stress

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2014

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Research paper thumbnail of Preventing acute stress-induced inflammatory disinhibition by aspirin: What does it tell us about the mechanism?

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2008

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Research paper thumbnail of Response and habituation of pro- and anti-inflammatory gene expression to repeated acute stress

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2015

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Research paper thumbnail of 35. Acute psychosocial stress induces short-term catecholamine resistance of TNF, but not of IL-6 production in healthy young men

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2009

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Research paper thumbnail of Adding another level of complexity to the depression—inflammation link: What mediates the mediator?

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2009

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Research paper thumbnail of Variability in stress system regulatory control of inflammation: A critical factor mediating health effects of stress

Expert Review of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2011

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Research paper thumbnail of No response of plasma substance P, but delayed increase of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist to acute psychosocial stress

Life Sciences, 2006

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Research paper thumbnail of Stress-Induced Cortisol Level Elevations Are Associated With Reduced Negative Affect After Stress: Indications for a Mood-Buffering Cortisol Effect

Psychosomatic Medicine, 2012

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Research paper thumbnail of Role of interleukin-6 in stress, sleep, and fatigue

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2012

Chronic low-grade inflammation, in particular increased concentrations of proinflammatory cytokin... more Chronic low-grade inflammation, in particular increased concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 in the circulation, is observed with increasing age, but it is also as a consequence of various medical and psychological conditions, as well as life-style choices. Since molecules such as IL-6 have pleiotropic effects, consequences are wide ranging. This short review summarizes the evidence showing how IL-6 elevations in the context of inflammatory disease affect the organism, with a focus on sleep-related symptoms and fatigue; and conversely, how alterations in sleep duration and quality stimulate increased concentrations of IL-6 in the circulation. Research showing that acute as well as chronic psychological stress also increase concentrations of IL-6 supports the notion of a close link between an organism's response to physiological and psychological perturbations. The findings summarized here further underscore the particular importance of IL-6 as a messenger molecule that connects peripheral regulatory processes with the CNS.

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Research paper thumbnail of Post-stress rumination predicts HPA axis responses to repeated acute stress

Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2014

Failure of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to habituate to repeated stress exposure... more Failure of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to habituate to repeated stress exposure is related with adverse health outcomes, but our knowledge of predictors of non-habituation is limited. Rumination, defined as repetitive and unwanted past-centered negative thinking, is related with exaggerated HPA axis stress responses and poor health outcomes. The aim of this study was to test whether post-stress rumination was related with non-habituation of cortisol to repeated stress exposure. Twenty-seven participants (n=13 females) were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) twice on consecutive afternoons. Post-stress rumination was measured after the first TSST, and HPA axis responses were assessed by measuring salivary cortisol 1 min before, and 1, 10, 20, 60, and 120 min after both TSSTs. Stress exposure induced HPA axis activation on both days, and this activation showed habituation indicated by lower responses to the second TSST (F=3.7, p=0.015). Post-stress rumination after the first TSST was associated with greater cortisol reactivity after the initial stress test (r=0.45, p<0.05) and with increased cortisol responses to the second TSST (r=0.51, p<0.01), indicating non-habituation, independently of age, sex, depressive symptoms, perceived life stress, and trait rumination. In summary, results showed that rumination after stress predicted non-habituation of HPA axis responses. This finding implicates rumination as one possible mechanism mediating maladaptive stress response patterns, and it might also offer a pathway through which rumination might lead to negative health outcomes.

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Research paper thumbnail of Evidence for an association between an enhanced reactivity of interleukin-6 levels and reduced glucocorticoid sensitivity in patients with fibromyalgia

Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2012

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Research paper thumbnail of Acute and chronic stress induced changes in sensitivity of peripheral inflammatory pathways to the signals of multiple stress systems – 2011 Curt Richter Award Winner

Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2012

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Research paper thumbnail of Predicting the failure of disc surgery by a hypofunctional HPA axis: evidence from a prospective study on patients undergoing disc surgery

Pain, 2005

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Research paper thumbnail of A snapshot of the inner workings of the inflammatory machinery in PTSD with early trauma

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2012

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Research paper thumbnail of Fasting modulates interleukin-6 and cortisol reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Test

Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2015

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Research paper thumbnail of Effort–reward-imbalance in healthy teachers is associated with higher LPS-stimulated production and lower glucocorticoid sensitivity of interleukin-6 in vitro

Biological Psychology, 2013

According to the effort-reward-imbalance (ERI) model, a lack of reciprocity between costs and gai... more According to the effort-reward-imbalance (ERI) model, a lack of reciprocity between costs and gains at work increases the risk for adverse health outcomes. Inflammation has been shown to play a crucial role in a variety of stress-related diseases and alterations in immune system glucocorticoid sensitivity may help to explain the increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression related to chronic work stress. Changes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced interleukin (IL)-6 production and inhibition of IL-6 production by dexamethasone in reaction to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) were assessed in forty-six healthy school teachers to test whether chronic work stress is accompanied by alterations in inflammatory activity and glucocorticoid sensitivity of the innate immune system. High ERI was associated with an increase in pro-inflammatory potential, reflected in elevated IL-6 production before and after stress and with a lower capacity of dexamethasone to suppress IL-6 production in vitro over all measurement time points. ERI was not associated with stress-related changes in GC sensitivity. The present findings suggest a less effective anti-inflammatory regulation by glucocorticoids in teachers suffering from chronic work stress.

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Research paper thumbnail of Glucocorticoid sensitivity of cognitive and inflammatory processes in depression and posttraumatic stress disorder

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2010

Both hyper- and hypo-activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity are a con... more Both hyper- and hypo-activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity are a consistently reported hallmark feature of stress-related disorders, such as major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), respectively. In this manuscript, however, we are summarizing evidence pointing to altered glucocorticoid (GC) sensitivity in relevant target tissues for HPA axis hormones. Specifically, we provide a summary of GC effects on cognitive functions, as an emerging marker for central nervous system GC sensitivity, and of GC effects on peripheral inflammatory responses. With regard to depression and PTSD, evidence thereby points to decreased GC sensitivity of the cognitive and inflammatory systems in depression, and increased GC sensitivity of both systems in PTSD. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that both psychiatric disorders are characterized by inefficient GC signaling, although through dysregulations at different levels. Potential underlying pathways and implications are discussed.

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Research paper thumbnail of 12. Low stress system activity and high peripheral inflammation in female competitive ballroom dancers

Brain Behavior and Immunity

Chronic stress has been linked with detrimental health effects. The present study aimed to invest... more Chronic stress has been linked with detrimental health effects. The present study aimed to investigate consequences of repeated strong stress system activation without habituation on stress system and inflammatory status in highly experienced competitive ballroom dancers. Ballroom dancing served as a model for repeated, non-habituating social-evaluative and physical stress. We recruited 20 highly experienced young ballroom dancers and 20 controls of both sexes. Participants collected five saliva samples throughout an ordinary day (no competitive activities) to assess cortisol (cort) and alpha-amylase (sAA) levels as markers of the activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system, respectively. Further, participants provided a blood sample to determine basal interleukin- (IL-) 6 levels. ANOVAs revealed significant lower cort and sAA daily output in dancers compared to controls (cort: p = .007; sAA: p = .015) while there was no effect of sex...

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Psychoendokrinologische und -immunologische Veränderungen während der Lebensspanne

Psychoendokrinologie und Psychoimmunologie, 2011

ABSTRACT Das endokrine System und das Immunsystem stellen zusammen mit dem Zentralnervensystem (Z... more ABSTRACT Das endokrine System und das Immunsystem stellen zusammen mit dem Zentralnervensystem (ZNS) drei weitverzweigte Kommunikationsnetze unseres Organismus dar, über die zahlreiche Körperfunktionen gesteuert und überwacht werden. Während das ZNS elektrische Impulse generiert um Informationen innerhalb des ZNS zu verarbeiten und von Neuronen an nachgeordnete Körperzellen weiterzuleiten, produziert das endokrine System Hormone, welche als Botenstoff e des Körpers agieren. In enger Zusammenarbeit mit dem ZNS steuert das endokrine System nicht nur die offensichtlichen phänotypischen Entwicklungen des Menschen über die Lebensspanne, sondern es ist auch maßgeblich an der Veränderung funktioneller Eigenschaft en beteiligt. Das Immunsystem muss parallel mit sowohl zellulären und humoralen Abwehrprozessen dafür sorgen, dass die Integrität des Organismus in der Auseinandersetzung mit potenziell schädigenden Fremdkörpern (Antigenen) im sich entwickelnden bzw. alternden Menschen aufrechterhalten wird.

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Research paper thumbnail of Stress system regulation of chronic low-grade inflammation

Advances in Neuroimmune Biology, 2012

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Measures of adiposity predict interleukin-6 responses to repeated psychosocial stress

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2014

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Preventing acute stress-induced inflammatory disinhibition by aspirin: What does it tell us about the mechanism?

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2008

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Response and habituation of pro- and anti-inflammatory gene expression to repeated acute stress

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2015

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of 35. Acute psychosocial stress induces short-term catecholamine resistance of TNF, but not of IL-6 production in healthy young men

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2009

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Adding another level of complexity to the depression—inflammation link: What mediates the mediator?

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2009

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Variability in stress system regulatory control of inflammation: A critical factor mediating health effects of stress

Expert Review of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2011

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of No response of plasma substance P, but delayed increase of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist to acute psychosocial stress

Life Sciences, 2006

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Stress-Induced Cortisol Level Elevations Are Associated With Reduced Negative Affect After Stress: Indications for a Mood-Buffering Cortisol Effect

Psychosomatic Medicine, 2012

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Role of interleukin-6 in stress, sleep, and fatigue

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2012

Chronic low-grade inflammation, in particular increased concentrations of proinflammatory cytokin... more Chronic low-grade inflammation, in particular increased concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 in the circulation, is observed with increasing age, but it is also as a consequence of various medical and psychological conditions, as well as life-style choices. Since molecules such as IL-6 have pleiotropic effects, consequences are wide ranging. This short review summarizes the evidence showing how IL-6 elevations in the context of inflammatory disease affect the organism, with a focus on sleep-related symptoms and fatigue; and conversely, how alterations in sleep duration and quality stimulate increased concentrations of IL-6 in the circulation. Research showing that acute as well as chronic psychological stress also increase concentrations of IL-6 supports the notion of a close link between an organism's response to physiological and psychological perturbations. The findings summarized here further underscore the particular importance of IL-6 as a messenger molecule that connects peripheral regulatory processes with the CNS.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Post-stress rumination predicts HPA axis responses to repeated acute stress

Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2014

Failure of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to habituate to repeated stress exposure... more Failure of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to habituate to repeated stress exposure is related with adverse health outcomes, but our knowledge of predictors of non-habituation is limited. Rumination, defined as repetitive and unwanted past-centered negative thinking, is related with exaggerated HPA axis stress responses and poor health outcomes. The aim of this study was to test whether post-stress rumination was related with non-habituation of cortisol to repeated stress exposure. Twenty-seven participants (n=13 females) were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) twice on consecutive afternoons. Post-stress rumination was measured after the first TSST, and HPA axis responses were assessed by measuring salivary cortisol 1 min before, and 1, 10, 20, 60, and 120 min after both TSSTs. Stress exposure induced HPA axis activation on both days, and this activation showed habituation indicated by lower responses to the second TSST (F=3.7, p=0.015). Post-stress rumination after the first TSST was associated with greater cortisol reactivity after the initial stress test (r=0.45, p<0.05) and with increased cortisol responses to the second TSST (r=0.51, p<0.01), indicating non-habituation, independently of age, sex, depressive symptoms, perceived life stress, and trait rumination. In summary, results showed that rumination after stress predicted non-habituation of HPA axis responses. This finding implicates rumination as one possible mechanism mediating maladaptive stress response patterns, and it might also offer a pathway through which rumination might lead to negative health outcomes.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence for an association between an enhanced reactivity of interleukin-6 levels and reduced glucocorticoid sensitivity in patients with fibromyalgia

Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2012

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Acute and chronic stress induced changes in sensitivity of peripheral inflammatory pathways to the signals of multiple stress systems – 2011 Curt Richter Award Winner

Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2012

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Predicting the failure of disc surgery by a hypofunctional HPA axis: evidence from a prospective study on patients undergoing disc surgery

Pain, 2005

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of A snapshot of the inner workings of the inflammatory machinery in PTSD with early trauma

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2012

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Fasting modulates interleukin-6 and cortisol reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Test

Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2015

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Effort–reward-imbalance in healthy teachers is associated with higher LPS-stimulated production and lower glucocorticoid sensitivity of interleukin-6 in vitro

Biological Psychology, 2013

According to the effort-reward-imbalance (ERI) model, a lack of reciprocity between costs and gai... more According to the effort-reward-imbalance (ERI) model, a lack of reciprocity between costs and gains at work increases the risk for adverse health outcomes. Inflammation has been shown to play a crucial role in a variety of stress-related diseases and alterations in immune system glucocorticoid sensitivity may help to explain the increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression related to chronic work stress. Changes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced interleukin (IL)-6 production and inhibition of IL-6 production by dexamethasone in reaction to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) were assessed in forty-six healthy school teachers to test whether chronic work stress is accompanied by alterations in inflammatory activity and glucocorticoid sensitivity of the innate immune system. High ERI was associated with an increase in pro-inflammatory potential, reflected in elevated IL-6 production before and after stress and with a lower capacity of dexamethasone to suppress IL-6 production in vitro over all measurement time points. ERI was not associated with stress-related changes in GC sensitivity. The present findings suggest a less effective anti-inflammatory regulation by glucocorticoids in teachers suffering from chronic work stress.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Glucocorticoid sensitivity of cognitive and inflammatory processes in depression and posttraumatic stress disorder

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2010

Both hyper- and hypo-activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity are a con... more Both hyper- and hypo-activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity are a consistently reported hallmark feature of stress-related disorders, such as major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), respectively. In this manuscript, however, we are summarizing evidence pointing to altered glucocorticoid (GC) sensitivity in relevant target tissues for HPA axis hormones. Specifically, we provide a summary of GC effects on cognitive functions, as an emerging marker for central nervous system GC sensitivity, and of GC effects on peripheral inflammatory responses. With regard to depression and PTSD, evidence thereby points to decreased GC sensitivity of the cognitive and inflammatory systems in depression, and increased GC sensitivity of both systems in PTSD. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that both psychiatric disorders are characterized by inefficient GC signaling, although through dysregulations at different levels. Potential underlying pathways and implications are discussed.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact