title: Psychophysiological, neuroendocrine and cellular immune reactions under psychological stress.
abstract: Emotional stress is often followed by increased susceptibility to infections. Natural killer (NK) cells play a major role in the immediate immune response controlling this susceptibility. In this study on 45 first-time parachutists, it is demonstrated that highly controlled psychological stress increased psychophysiological variables, enhanced the secretion of sympathetic-adrenal hormones and also led to a significant increase of NK cells and their cytotoxic activity followed by a decrease below starting values. This immunological alteration is correlated with the secretion of noradrenaline during the emotional strain. Quick mobilization of these cytotoxic effector cells is suggested as a major mechanism for the effective adaptation of the immune system to stress situations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Psychology, Hannover Medical School, FRG.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schedlowski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alker
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pröhl
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stratmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hädicke
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tewes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001359:Aviation; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D011603:Psychophysiology; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D006854:Hydrocortisone