The Mind-Body Healing Experience (MHE) Is associated with Gene Expression in Human Leukocytes

This paper explores the hypothesis that a psychotherapeutic protocol, “The Mind-Body Healing Experience” (MHE), could modulate experience-dependent changes ingene expression in human white blood cells. Peripheral blood was collected just before and immediately followng administrationof the MHE to 18 individuals. Changes in experience-dependent gene expression over 1 hour and 24 hours were assessed through microarray analysis. A total of 200 genes were differentially expressed (>1.2 fold, p <0.05). After 1 hour 46 genes were differentially expressed and after 24 hours 154 genes were differentially expressed. Bioinformatic analysis revealed four significantly enriched GO term pathways (p-value <0.05): acetylation, cytosol, regulation of cell death and negative regulation of apoptosis. To validate the microarray results a subset of genes representative of specific and enriched GO pathways, or with relevant functions, were validated through RT-PCR experiments. This data demonstrated high plasticity of human immune cells and a considerable modulation of gene expression following the MHE. Genes apparently expressed in response to the MHE protocol are related to a variety of GO term pathways associated with reducing cellular stress and inflammation while supporting positive immune system functions. These findings may have important applications in therapeutic hypnosis, psychotherapy and rehabilitation.