DNA methylation mediates MBSR induced cardioprotection in patients after PCI
Mengyuan Xiong, Xingkui Dou, Jifa Tao, Fei Hu, Pan Jing, Zhao Zhao, Hongyan Cai, Zhao Hu, Min Zhang
Scientific Reports May 9, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-51616-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective pilot study Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 51 |
| Population | post-PCI acute myocardial infarction patients |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) standard therapy |
| Duration | 6 months |
| Measures | CRP, IL-6, PCT, left ventricular ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain, wall motion score index, 6-minute walk distance, genome-wide DNA methylation profiling |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | MBSR added to standard therapy was associated with greater 6-month reductions in CRP, IL-6, and PCT and improved cardiac function and exercise capacity versus controls, alongside widespread DNA methylation changes nominally enriched in immune, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and HPA-axis pathways. The authors suggest these findings support a novel 'epigenetic-inflammatory-cardiac functional axis' underlying MBSR's cardioprotective effects. |
Abstract
Abstract Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) improves well-being in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients, but its molecular cardioprotective mechanisms are unclear. In this prospective pilot study, 51 post-PCI AMI patients (17 MBSR plus standard therapy, 34 controls) were assessed for inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, PCT), echocardiography, and functional capacity at baseline and 6 months. Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in a subgroup ( n = 5/group) assessed changes from baseline to 6 months within MBSR and compared groups at the 6-month follow-up. At follow-up, the MBSR group showed greater reductions in CRP, IL-6, and PCT (adjusted P = 0.001, < 0.001, 0.003), alongside improved left ventricular ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain, wall motion score index, and 6-minute walk distance; all remained significant after false discovery rate correction (all q < 0.05). MBSR induced widespread DNA methylation changes (7,665 intra-group and 7,791 inter-group differentially methylated sites), which were nominally enriched in pathways related to immune response, inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuroendocrine (HPA axis) regulation. Exploratory uncorrected analysis linked BRD4 hypermethylation with lower CRP (ρ=-0.601) and improved GLS (ρ = 0.802), and PTTG1IP hypomethylation with improved LVEF (ρ = 0.717). These findings suggest MBSR modulates the DNA methylome within a novel “epigenetic-inflammatory-cardiac functional axis”, providing a mechanistic framework for its cardioprotective effects.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |