Lymphocyte subset and cellular immune responses to a brief experimental stressor.
To evaluate effects of acute mental stress on aspects of cellular immunity, lymphocyte populations and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated T-cell mitogenesis were measured in 33 healthy young men, both before and immediately following subjects' performance of a frustrating, 21-minute laboratory task (Stroop test). Relative to baseline evaluations, post-task measurements showed a significant reduction in mitogenesis and alterations in various circulating lymphocyte populations; the latter included a diminished T-helper/T-suppressor cell ratio and an elevation in the number of natural killer cells. Eleven subjects assigned to a control (unstressed) condition exhibited no changes in lymphocyte populations, but did show an increase in T-cell proliferation, compared with pretask measurements.
Bachen
E A
EA
Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
Manuck
S B
SB
Marsland
A L
AL
Cohen
S
S
Malkoff
S B
SB
Muldoon
M F
MF
Rabin
B S
BS
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*