Stress-induced modulation of the immune response to recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.
Each of a series of three hepatitis B (Hep B) inoculations was given to 48 second-year medical students on the 3rd day of a 3-day examination series to study the effect of academic stress on the ability to generate an immune response to a primary antigen. Those students who seroconverted after the first injection (25%) were significantly less stressed and anxious than those who did not seroconvert at that time. In addition, students who reported greater social support demonstrated a stronger immune response to the vaccine at the time of the third inoculation, as measured by antibody titers to Hep B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the blastogenic response to a HBsAg peptide (SAg).
Glaser
R
R
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus 43210.
Kiecolt-Glaser
J K
JK
Bonneau
R H
RH
Malarkey
W
W
Kennedy
S
S
Hughes
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*; D013337:Students, Medical; D014611:Vaccination; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines