Genes showing over-expression in leukocytes from high-lonely individuals included multiple transcription factors controlling cell growth and differentiation (EGR1, EGR3, FOSB, BHLHB2,EP400), as well as regulators of chromatin structure (the DNA topoisomerase TOP2B, the ARID1A and SMARCC1 components of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, histone H2AFV, and the histone acetyltransferase MYST3). These findings suggest that social isolation might potentially influence basic gene-regulatory processes involved in cell growth and differentiation. Consistent with that hypothesis, over-expressed genes also included molecules promoting cell cycle progression (CDC25B, G0S2, MYBL1, DVL3, BTG2, ARFGEF2), enzymes involved in nucleotide and protein biosynthesis (PPAT, MTRR), cytoskeletal remodeling factors (DCTN1, KIF21B, RPH3A), and factors involved in processing and nuclear export of RNA (NXF3, HNRPL, DDX17, SFPQ). In the context of leukocytes, cell cycling plays a key role in immune activation and proliferation. Several other indications of immune activation emerged in the set of over-expressed genes, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, granzymes, proteinases, and receptors for inflammatory mediators (IL1B, IL8, IL8RB, IL10RA, PTGDR,KLRC3,NKTR,GZMK, and multiple HLADR genes), as well as the master regulator of prostagladin synthesis, cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX2/PTGS2). Additional indicators of
