Skip to main content

CTRA

Meaning

CTRA, or the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity, represents a specific, evolutionarily preserved pattern of gene expression observed in circulating immune cells following exposure to chronic psychosocial stress or threat. This genomic profile is characterized by a coordinated upregulation of genes that promote inflammation and a corresponding downregulation of genes involved in Type I interferon-mediated antiviral and antibody responses. It serves as a quantifiable molecular signature linking psychological and social adversity to adverse physical health outcomes. This response is a fundamental mechanism of psychoneuroimmunology.