Common causes of systemic inflammation

    Chronic systemic inflammation (SI) is the result of release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from immune-related cells and the chronic activation of the innate immune system. It can contribute to the development or progression of certain conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders, and coronary heart disease.

Common causes of systemic inflammation

Obesity

Increases in visceral adipose tissue leads to dysregulated, inflamed adipocytes promoting

immune activation and an increase in adipokines.

 

Sedentary lifestyle

Increased anabolic resistance and increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

May also predispose to obesity.

 

Dysbiosis & intestinal permeability

A reduction in microbial diversity and an increase in pathobionts and inflammophiles produces

increased inflammation.

Endotoxemia promotes the initiation of oxidative stress and immune dysregulation.

Translocation of bacteria increases inflammation.

 

Western Diet

Low in fibre, SCFA’s and fermented foods, influencing the intestinal microbiota and promoting

dysbiosis.

High refined sugars with a high Glycaemic Index lead to elevated CRP.

Excessive alcohol intake promotes dysbiosis and elevated CRP.

Low intake of omega-3 fatty acids and a high intake of trans fats and seed oils promotes increases in CRP, Interleukin- 6 (IL- 6) and tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-alfa).

Predisposes to obesity.

 

Isolation & chronic stress

Activation of β-adrenergic signalling due to activation of the HPA axis and SNS induces

increased nuclear factor- κB (NF-κB), inflammatory gene expression, proinflammatory cyto-

kines and markers of systemic inflammation.

Dysbiosis and subsequent inflammation has been shown to alter behaviour leading to an

increase in withdrawal/anti-social behaviour.

 

Inadequate sleep

Mechanism of action is unknown but hypothesised to be due to an increased activation of β-adrenergic.

NB. Women, as compared to men, may be more vulnerable to the effects of sleep disturbance and show elevations in CRP and IL- 6.

 

Xenobiotics

Cytotoxic; leads to tissue damage.

Leads to alterations with genes involved with mediating inflammation.

Induces dysbiosis.

 

Trauma

Individuals with a history of trauma, such as assault or isolation, often present with elevated inflammatory markers including IL-6 and TNF-α, due to altered neuro-immune activity.

 

Loneliness

Social adversity, such as social exclusion or loneliness, is associated with increased inflammation due to upregulated inflammatory gene expression.