Immunity, Emotions and Stress

Abstract

Evidence from a variety of sources supports the notion that stress and emotional distress may relate to dysfunction and hypofunction of the immunologic system. We have experimental evidence that some forms of stress reduce primary and secondary antibody response to low dose antigen stimulation in rats and that adult immunologic responsivity may be altered by early infantile experience. Mixed-sex group housing at high male-female ratios increases severity of adjuvant-induced arthritis in the male rat. Graft-versus-host reactions are diminished by food-limitation stress to recipient animals. Sex segregated group-housed mice show larger murine virus-induced sarcomas when inoculated at 6 and 9 months of age than males housed individually with two or more females. Electric shock stress for 3 days prior to inoculation with virus reduces incidence and size of MSV tumors, while shock administered 3 days following inoculation increases tumor size. Female mice that develop spontaneous fighting behavior show significantly greater resistance to MSV tumors. Acutely ill schizophrenic patients with relatively high levels of IgA and IgG have a poorer short-term prognosis. Electrolytic lesions of the ventromedial and posterior nuclei of the hypothalamus of recipient and possibly also of donor animals impair the GVH reaction. Our experimental findings suggest that stress and central nervous system lesions affect thymus-derived lymphocytes (T-cells) and play a role in cell-cell interaction or the release of mediators from reacting lymphocytes. Ultimately, we may find that stress affects the macrophage, a hormone-sensitive cell that plays a role in afferent, central and efferent limbs of the immune system.

Psychoimmunoendocrine Aspects of Panic Disorder

“…expression of a CRH-related HPA hyperactivity [Gold et al. 1988], As a consequence, we were expecting an impaired response to PHA in our patients, linked to the well known immunosuppressive effect of corticoids and of centrally acting CRH [Solomon et al, 1974: Britton et al. 1982Irwin et al, 1988, Pedersen et al.…”

“…Even though the relation ship between psychological and immune phenomena is still not fully understood, inhibition of the immune func tions has often, even though not constantly, been reported concomitant with the psychological impairments, similar to that seen after acute and prolonged stress [Solomon et al, 1974;Bartrop et al 1977; Locke et ah, 1982 Locke et ah, , 1984 Sengaretah. 1982; Schleiferet ah.…”

“…1990 Jain et al. 1991],The neuroendocrine investigation included the static and dynamic secretory tonus of the HPA hormones, which are known to influence immune function and are frequently impaired in panic disorder [Solomon et al, 1974: Britton et al, 1982Irwin et al. 1988: Cameron and Nesse.…”

Psychoimmunoendocrine Investigation in Anorexia nervosa

“…In the same blood samples from which the T lympho cytes were isolated, we studied basal plasma concentra tions of hormones which inhibit [adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol] or stimulate [growth hor mone (GH), prolactin (PRL), (3-endorphin ((3-EP)] the immune system in experimental animals and humans, and have been repeatedly reported to be impaired in AN (54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63). Since there are transitory increases ofhypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function in AN, we then administered the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-stimulation test to our patients, to see if increased blood CRH, ACTH, cortisol and (3-EP concentrations would acutely modify the T lymphocyte proliferative response to mitogens, as it does in experimental animals (56,(64)(65)(66).…”

Children at Risk of Allergic Development: The Parents’ Dyadic Relationship

“…Evi dence from twin studies shows very low con cordance for IgE [Edfors-Lubs, 1971], We therefore hypothesize that the IgE differ ences between our high-and low-risk groups have to be accounted for by a neurobiologically mediated stress reaction. With refer ence to Jozuka [1985], Solomon and Amkraut [1974] and Kiecolt-Glaser et al [1984] we believe that an anxiety-and conflict repressing mother (high-risk families) expe riences considerable emotional stress which may create a state of intrauterine stress in the baby and lead to the production of IgE during pregnancy.…”