RESEARCH - Study shows laughter helps difficult-to-control RA

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Study shows laughter helps difficult-to-control RA

Rheumawire

Feb 7, 2006

Gandey

Tokyo, Japan - Researchers have found that a good laugh has a positive

effect on the immune response of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis

(RA) [1]. The findings point to the importance of addressing not only the

physical but also the psychological stresses of severe RA. " The effects of

mirthful laughter might be remarkable, especially in the

difficult-to-control RA group, since it is thought that such patients are

under much more psychological and physical stress in daily life compared

with patients with easily controlled RA, " comment the researchers, led by Dr

T Matsuzaki (Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan). Their study appears in

the February 2006 issue of Rheumatology.

The researchers studied the effect of laughter on serum pro- and

anti-inflammatory cytokines. They looked at 41 RA patients and 23 healthy

subjects. The RA patients were divided into two groups-difficult-to-control

and easily controlled. Patients with severe RA had a C-reactive protein of

>1.0 mg/dL.

Subjects listened to a traditional Japanese story called Rakugo that is

known to be very funny. The researchers measured pro- and anti-inflammatory

cytokines before and after the story was played. They observed that the

baseline levels of serum interleukin-6 and TNF- in the RA patients were

significantly higher than those in the healthy group.

After laughing, the RA group's levels of serum interleukin-6 decreased

significantly, but not those of the healthy subjects. A similar effect was

found for interleukin-4. RA patients had significantly higher concentrations

at baseline, but these levels dropped after they laughed at the story.

In contrast, serum interleukin-1 receptor antagonist was statistically

higher in the RA group than in healthy subjects at the start of the study

but continued to increase after the funny story-especially in the easily

controlled RA group. Interestingly, the level of serum TNF- decreased only

in this same group-the milder-RA patients.

The researchers write that consistent with previous reports, their study

demonstrates that abnormal levels of serum pro- and anti-inflammatory

cytokines were present in RA patients at baseline. " After laughter, these

molecules were differentially modulated depending on the disease activity of

RA, " they report. " These results suggest that not only the immunological

process but also psychological condition regulates the production of several

cytokines in RA. "

Evidence emerging on the effect of stress on the immune system

Matsuzaki and colleagues note that the effect of stress on cytokine

production is generally not well understood. But they point to mounting

evidence suggesting that an interaction between stress and the immune system

plays a pivotal role in the etiology and progression of autoimmune diseases

such as RA.

" These findings suggest the possibility that the various immunomodulatory

responses to mental condition depend on the disease activity of RA, " the

researchers write. " Therefore, psychological support should be considered

indispensable for the treatment of RA. "

Another recent study examining the health effects of laughter came to a

similar conclusion [2]. Researchers led by Dr (University of

land, Baltimore) found that humor boosts endothelial function. The group

reports that regularly watching comedies or doing other activities that

encourage laughter has the potential for being a safe, risk-modifying

intervention for people with impaired vasoreactivity.

Sources

1. Matsuzaki T, Nakajima A, Ishigami S, et al. Mirthful

laughter differentially affects serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine

levels depending on the level of disease activity in patients with

rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology 2006; 45:182-186.

2. M, Mangano C, Park Y, et al. Impact of cinematic

viewing on endothelial function. Heart 2006; 92:261-262.

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