The Etiology of Inflammatory Responses: Exploring Biocultural Influences on Salivary C-Reactive Protein in African Diasporic Communities

Abstract

The relationship between stress and health is evident: individuals who experience chronic exposure to stressors are at an elevated risk of adverse health outcomes. However, the underlying biological mechanisms of how social and environmental factors (SEFs) influence health outcomes are not thoroughly understood. Inflammation, measured by biomarkers like C-reactive protein (CRP), has emerged as a promising mediator that can bridge the gaps between stress and disease pathways, as it is influenced not only by infections but also by genetic, behavioral and psychosocial factors. Exploring the relationship between stress, inflammation, and health outcomes in African diasporic populations, who are underrepresented in the literature, could provide valuable insights to address persistent health disparities. This dissertation aims to address this gap in knowledge by considering the effects of SEFs on stress biomarkers affiliated with inflammation. Specifically, the study will 1) examine how inflammatory-related biomarkers measurements vary by SEFs in a Nigerian population; 2) examine variability in methylation levels in CRP in Nigerians in conjunction with SEFs values and CRP levels and 3) test associations between metabolic and inflammatory-related markers, stress, and chronic inflammatory disease outcomes among a cross-cultural counterpoint of African Americans. All three aims will demonstrate the relationship between lived experience and biological inflammatory response mechanisms. Overall, this truly interdisciplinary work examines stress experiences and health in holistic ways among African Diasporic communities.