title: Modulation of lymphocyte subsets due to psychological stress in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The influence of a 1-hour neuropsychological stress test on the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations and on plasma catecholamine levels was investigated in 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 14 sex- and age-matched controls. Despite significant increases in lymphocyte counts in both groups, lymphocyte subsets did not change accordingly. A wide scattering of catecholamine levels in plasma before and after stress was observed. Plasma levels of lymphokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6 could not be detected in RA patients. Enzyme immunoassay of markers of lymphocyte activation such as HLA-DR and cell-bound IL-2 receptor showed only a significant elevation of HLA-DR marked cells in RA patients at baseline. Significantly higher amounts of the soluble IL-2 receptor were detected in patients with RA before the stress test, but stress testing did not alter this parameter. In conclusion, lymphocyte activation in RA and a defect in the expression of IL-2 receptor on the cell surface of lymphocytes were confirmed in the present study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palm
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hinrichsen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halabi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferstl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tolk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirsten
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kirch
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine