Stress immune response

Costantini, D. and Dell Omo, G. 2006. Effects of T-cell-mediated immune response on avian oxidative stress. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A 145 137-142. 

Kiecolt-Glaser, J.K. et al., Chronic stress alters the immune response to influenza virus vaccine in older adults, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 93, 3043, 1996. 

Stress-Related Effects on Immune Responses to Vaccinations.514... 

Psychological stress may influence the immune system by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary axis (SAM). The well-described innervation of primary and secondary lymphoid tissues by the autonomic nervous system also has been implicated in stress-related modulation of the immune response. These pathways operate by producing biological mediators that interact with and affect cellular components of the immune system.13... 

Stress-related immune dysregulation also involves the synthesis of hormones including ACTH, growth hormone, and prolactin.14-17 Interestingly, it has also been demonstrated that various aspects of the immune response, for example., proliferation of B- and T-cells, cytokine production, antibody production, chemotaxis of monocytes and neutrophils, and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, can be affected by glucocorticoids (including cortisol) as well as peptides such as ACTH, CRH, endorphins, substance P, and somatostatin.1218... 

The stress-associated shift in Thl/Th2 cytokines observed in human subjects has also been demonstrated in restraint-stressed mice. Associated with the shift towards a Th2 response are a significant decrease in NK cell activity, decreased IFN-y production by Con A-stimulated splenocytes, and a concomitant increase in serum corticosterone levels after 24 hours of restraint.30 These observations are consistent with studies on the effects of restraint stress and the immune response to viral infection. Restraint-stressed mice exhibited a decline in NK cell activity and a decrease in the generation of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes to HSV-l after primary infection, which resulted in an increase in the replication of the virus at the site of infection.3132... 

Consistent with this hypothesis are data from a study with mice. Social disruption of groups of 5 male BALB/c mice was shown to increase aggression among cohorts, activate the HPA axis, and reactivate latent HS V-1 in more than 40% of latently infected mice.46 In contrast, restraint stress, which can down-regulate the innate and HSV-1 specific immune response, did not reactivate latent HSV-1.47 HPA activation, as measured by serum corticosterone levels, was comparable using both types of stressors. 

The results obtained from the academic stress and older AD caregivers suggest that the tendency of a stress-induced shift in Thl toward Th2 pattern of cytokine synthesis is not absolute, and that humoral immunity is also subject to suppression by stress. We conclude this based on results showing stress-induced changes in both the antibody and T-cell response components of the immune response.54 57... 

The studies on stress-associated immunoregulation reviewed here are of great interest to both basic scientists and clinicians. Whereas these results implicate stress in the dys-regulation of the cellular immune response in healthy individuals, of greater importance... 

Glaser, R. et al., Stress-induced modulation of the immune response to recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, Psychosomat. Med., 54, 22, 1992. 

Sheridan, I.F. et al.., Restraint stress differentially affects anti-viral cellular and humoral immune responses in mice, J. Neuroimmunol., 31, 245, 1991. 

Glaser, R. and Kiecolt-Glaser, L, Chronic stress modulates the virus-specific immune response to latent herpes simplex virus type 1, Ann. Behav. Med., 78, 1997. 

Jabaaij, L. et al., Modulation of immune response to rDNA hepatitis B vaccination by psychological stress, J. Psychomat. Res. 41, 129, 1996. 

---