Cellular immune parameters in human stress studies: Mediators and mechanisms

Journal/Book: Z Rheumatol 1999; 58: 299-300. 1999;

Abstract: J. Hennig and P Netter; Fachbereich Psychologie Abtlg. Differentielle Psychologie und Diagnostik der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen Several studies have been performed to investigate physiological as well as psychological stress on single or combined parameters of the immune system. While the influence of stress on immune competence is commonly accepted in general research interest has switched to identify mediators and mechanisms of those stress responses. It became obvious that acute stress led in most of the studies to changes in immune parameters which cannot be interpreted as immunosuppression. In fact changes in cellular activity (natural killer cell activity mitogen responsiveness) or numbers of peripheral lymphocyte subsets indicate processes of activation. Since pretreatment with beta-adrenoreceptor-blockers inhibits those responses stimulation of immune cells by norepinephrine has been characterized to be one potent mechanism of those responses. Furthermore pretreatment with drugs inhibiting cortisol release during stress seem to inhibit post-stress downregulation of those responses. While the increased number of lymphocyte subsets (e.g. CD8+ cells) declines after the end of stress exposure in a group treated with placebo it remains elevated in a group without a stress induced cortisol response. Occasionally the influence of situational demands have been investigated as moderators of the stress responses. Uncontrollability affects stress induced declines in natural killer cells activity more pronounced than in situations which allow for control. This effect is enhanced in subjects with a high need for control pointing into the importance of personality as a mediator. To investigate the question whether individual differences may be related to the immune system two fundamental requirements should be given: First a (temporal) stability of immune parameters should exist and secondly changes after repeated stress should be correlated. ... le

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