Alterations in interleukin-4 and antibody production following pheromone exposure: role of glucocorticoids.
We have previously shown that exposure to pheromones from footshock-stressed mice suppresses cell-mediated immunity and enhances humoral immunity. Here we show that stress odor exposure is associated with enhanced antigen-specific antibody production and interleukin (IL)-4 production in BALB/c, but not C57Bl/6, mice. Glucocorticoid receptor antagonism blocks the enhancement of IL-4, but not antibody titers. There is an apparent differential sensitivity of BALB/c and C57Bl/6 spleen cells to in vitro incubation with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone; IL-2 production by BALB/c spleen cells is more sensitive to the effects of steroid. These data suggest that C57Bl/6 mice may not respond to stress pheromones due to their relative insensitivity to endogenous steroids.
Moynihan
J A
JA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY 14642.
Karp
J D
JD
Cohen
N
N
Cocke
R
R
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004343:Drug Implants; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009812:Odorants; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology
D000941:Antigens; D004343:Drug Implants; D010675:Pheromones; D003208:Concanavalin A; D015847:Interleukin-4; D015735:Mifepristone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin