Laughter up-regulates the genes related to NK cell activity in diabetes

Abstract

To elucidate the sustainable effects of laughter on gene expression, we recruited type 2 diabetic patients who were in-patient for receiving self-management education and examined time-dependent regulation for gene expression by laughter. Two-day experiment was performed. On one day, the patients watched comic video and laughed together with hospital staffs. On the other day, they participated in an inpatient diabetes educational program. Blood samples were collected before and 1.5, 4 h after watching comic video or spending lecture time, and changes in gene expression were comprehensively analyzed by microarray technique. Of the 41,000 genes analyzed, the laughter relatively up-regulated 39 genes, among which, 27 genes were relatively increased in the expression for all the observation period after watching comic video. By functional classification of these genes, 14 genes were found to be related to natural killer cell activity. No genes were included that are directly involved in blood glucose regulation, though successive suppression of postprandial blood glucose levels was observed. These results suggest that the laughter influences the expression of many genes classified into immune responses, and may contribute to amelioration of postprandial blood glucose elevation through a modulation of NK cell activity caused by up-regulation of relating genes.

Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter in Mental Health: A Theoretical Review

“…For these reasons, the medical world has taken notice and attempted to include it to more traditional therapies. Laughter therapy gives our body various physiological changes, and has an influence on the physical temperature, blood pressure, lung capacity, heart rate, muscles in the musculoskeletal system, and brain activity, so it can have an overall effect in promoting health (Hayashi et al 2007;Bennett and Lengacher 2009). Mentally, laughter therapy helps reduce unpleasant feelings such as tension, anxiety, hatred, and anger, alleviates feelings of depression, aids better interpersonal relationships, and improves insomnia, memory failure, and dementia (Takeda et al 2010;Bains et al 2015).…”

“…Moreover, as laughter therapy does not require specialized preparations such as suitable facilities and equipment, is not prohibited by cost, does not depend on when or where it happens, and is easily accessible and acceptable, the medical world has also introduced it into treatment programs (Mora-Ripoll 2010; Ko and Youn 2011). Laughter therapy physiologically reduces the level of stress hormones, increases the level of health promoting-hormones such as endorphins, and strengthens the immune system by increasing the number of T-lymphocytes through activation of natural killer cells, which multiplies white blood cells in the body, and Ig A, G, and M, which raises immunity in the body (Bennett and Lengacher 2006;Hayashi et al 2007;Bennett and Lengacher 2009). In addition, it also has an effect of reducing blood pressure by controlling vasoconstriction by lowering the degradation of the vasorelaxant substance, nitric oxide, and reducing cortisol thus raising blood sugar (Bennett and Lengacher 2008;Hasan and Hasan 2009).…”

Positive emotion-specific changes in the gene expression profile of tickled rats

“…We have demonstrated that laughter, an expression of positive emotion, influences the mind and body at a molecularbiological level (3)(4)(5)(6). Studies concerning the physiological effect of laughter were triggered by Cousins (7), who reported on his own recovery from disease through laughter.…”

“…We recently found that laughter suppressed an increase in the postprandial blood glucose level in patients with type 2 diabetes (3), and caused specific changes in gene expression in peripheral blood leucocytes (4). Laughter upregulated the expression of genes ameliorating the progression of diabetic microvascular complications (5) and improving glucose intolerance by modulating NK cell activity (6). Positive emotional expressions such as laughter are the result of neurotransmission, but how this process is related to glucose metabolism has not been clarified.…”

Effects of Laughter Therapy on Postpartum Fatigue and Stress Responses of Postpartum Women

“…웃음요법은 암환자 (Kim, Kim, Kim, Lee, & Yu, 2009), 당뇨환자 (Takash et al, 2007), 노인 (Kim & Jun, 2009), 혈액투석환자 (Heo, 2007), 군병사 (Choi, Kim, Cha, Pyo, & Kim, 2010;Heo, 2007). …”