I thought this article was about mostly stress related changes in the endocrine system and possible leads to why we have stress triggered flares. But I learned
more. It mentions herpes viruses reactivated, and without us knowing it. It even discusses unhappy people as having higher levels of EBV in them! Very good!
It has now been well established that a variety of stressors can promote the release of pituitary and adrenal hormones. For example, psychological stress in humans increases the levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) via the hypothalamus, which then stimulates the pituitary gland to produce ACTH, which then stimulates the adrenal gland (the HPA axis), modulating a variety of immune interactions (2). Studies on the relationship between neuroendo crine peptides and modulation of immune function have focused on neu ropeptides derived from the polyprotein pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), particularly ACTH and beta endorphin. However, as already mentioned, other hormones-such as cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, the cate cholamines, epinephrine, and norepinephrin-have also been shown to mod ulate immune function (1). There is a large and consistent literature on stressful life events that sug gcsts that individuals who have experienced a recent major negative life change may be at greater risk for a variety of illnesses, including infectious disease. While the correlations are not large, generally explaining about 10% of the variance (3), the effects are remarkably consistent. Of interest is the fact that certain events, those associated with the loss of important personal relationships such as bereavement or divorce / separation, clearly put individ uals at greater risk for illness. Social support modulates morbidity and mor tality, accounting for as much of the variance for risk for illness as smoking, exercise, and being overweight (4). Many of these issues have been the focus of studies in psychoneuroimmunology. The immunological and pathological consequences of bereavement, one of the most stressful life events, has been the subject of several studies. There is, for example, evidence that the wid owed survivor experiences an increased risk of morbidity and mortality fol lowing the death of the spouse (5,6). In some of these studies, immune impairments have been described associated with this loss, suggesting that immune competence may play a role for the health risk in these individuals (7-11). As already indicated, divorce is also associated with immunological alterations, particularly in individuals who have been separated for only a short period of time and who are still strongly attached to their spouse (7).
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Stress-Associated Immune Modulation 247 One of tire key issues in the field of psychoneuroimmunology has been the connection between stress-related immunological alterations and actual health changes. While it is reasonable to assume that both long- and short term alterations in immune function have deleterious consequences for health, there are a few studies that provide evidence of such relationship (1,8-14). There are several problems in establishing these relationships; for example, stressed or distressed individuals are likely to have a variety of life stvle factors that would put them at a greater risk independent of the immune system interactions. These include poor health habits such as alcohol and drug abusc, poor sleep, poor nutrition. less exercise, etc. (14). In addition, persons who are socially isolated, who have demonstrably higher morbidity and mortality (4), are also less likely to have contact with others and in that regard may be less likely to be infected with a pathogen. II. THE IMPACT Of ACADEMIC STRESS ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM In studies from our laboratory, we were interested in determining if a rela tively commonplace stressful event could be associated with suppression of the immune response, and if the suppression couldhave implications for risk for infectious disease, such as upper respiratory tract infections. In order to explore this possibility, we have performed several studies which involved first- and second-year medical students at The Ohio State University Medical Center, using academic stress as an acute cyclical stressor. The curriculum in the first 2 years at The Ohio State University College of Medicine is such that the medical students do not take examinations at random; the examinations occur in 2- to 3-day examination blocks (approximately seven or eight of these), across the academic year. Therefore, the medical students, as a class, cycle together in either less stressful periods or more stressful periods in which they are taking examinations. In our first study, we found evidence for a decrease in natural killer (NK) cell activity (using K562 cells as target cells) in blood samples obtained from 75 medical students during their examination periods, in contrast to blood samples obtained at the baseline period 1 month before. We also found that psychological distress increased during examination periods as compared to the baseline period (15). Natural killer cell activity is thought to be im portant as a defense not only against cancer but also against virus infections (l6). In a subsequent study, we confirmed these results with NK cell activity using a different target cell, MOLT-4.
It has now been well established that a variety of stressors can promote the release of pituitary and adrenal hormones. For example, psychological stress in humans increases the levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) via the hypothalamus, which then stimulates the pituitary gland to produce ACTH, which then stimulates the adrenal gland (the HPA axis), modulating a variety of immune interactions (2). Studies on the relationship between neuroendo crine peptides and modulation of immune function have focused on neu ropeptides derived from the polyprotein pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), particularly ACTH and beta endorphin. However, as already mentioned, other hormones-such as cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, the cate cholamines, epinephrine, and norepinephrin-have also been shown to mod ulate immune function (1). There is a large and consistent literature on stressful life events that sug gcsts that individuals who have experienced a recent major negative life change may be at greater risk for a variety of illnesses, including infectious disease. While the correlations are not large, generally explaining about 10% of the variance (3), the effects are remarkably consistent. Of interest is the fact that certain events, those associated with the loss of important personal relationships such as bereavement or divorce / separation, clearly put individ uals at greater risk for illness. Social support modulates morbidity and mor tality, accounting for as much of the variance for risk for illness as smoking, exercise, and being overweight (4). Many of these issues have been the focus of studies in psychoneuroimmunology. The immunological and pathological consequences of bereavement, one of the most stressful life events, has been the subject of several studies. There is, for example, evidence that the wid owed survivor experiences an increased risk of morbidity and mortality fol lowing the death of the spouse (5,6). In some of these studies, immune impairments have been described associated with this loss, suggesting that immune competence may play a role for the health risk in these individuals (7-11). As already indicated, divorce is also associated with immunological alterations, particularly in individuals who have been separated for only a short period of time and who are still strongly attached to their spouse (7).
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Page 3
Stress-Associated Immune Modulation 247 One of tire key issues in the field of psychoneuroimmunology has been the connection between stress-related immunological alterations and actual health changes. While it is reasonable to assume that both long- and short term alterations in immune function have deleterious consequences for health, there are a few studies that provide evidence of such relationship (1,8-14). There are several problems in establishing these relationships; for example, stressed or distressed individuals are likely to have a variety of life stvle factors that would put them at a greater risk independent of the immune system interactions. These include poor health habits such as alcohol and drug abusc, poor sleep, poor nutrition. less exercise, etc. (14). In addition, persons who are socially isolated, who have demonstrably higher morbidity and mortality (4), are also less likely to have contact with others and in that regard may be less likely to be infected with a pathogen. II. THE IMPACT Of ACADEMIC STRESS ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM In studies from our laboratory, we were interested in determining if a rela tively commonplace stressful event could be associated with suppression of the immune response, and if the suppression couldhave implications for risk for infectious disease, such as upper respiratory tract infections. In order to explore this possibility, we have performed several studies which involved first- and second-year medical students at The Ohio State University Medical Center, using academic stress as an acute cyclical stressor. The curriculum in the first 2 years at The Ohio State University College of Medicine is such that the medical students do not take examinations at random; the examinations occur in 2- to 3-day examination blocks (approximately seven or eight of these), across the academic year. Therefore, the medical students, as a class, cycle together in either less stressful periods or more stressful periods in which they are taking examinations. In our first study, we found evidence for a decrease in natural killer (NK) cell activity (using K562 cells as target cells) in blood samples obtained from 75 medical students during their examination periods, in contrast to blood samples obtained at the baseline period 1 month before. We also found that psychological distress increased during examination periods as compared to the baseline period (15). Natural killer cell activity is thought to be im portant as a defense not only against cancer but also against virus infections (l6). In a subsequent study, we confirmed these results with NK cell activity using a different target cell, MOLT-4.
Mosken
Linda.
Very interesting info. Stress does play a big part in
everything, that happens to
us..
