title: Effects of behavioral stimuli on plasma interleukin-1 activity in humans at rest.
abstract: Interleukin-1 (IL-1) bioassays were done on 208 serum samples drawn from 7 volunteers, over several hours at 5-minute intervals, before, during, and after a relaxation-related behavioral stimulus. Individuals showed up to a 267% increase (t[29] = 7.750, p = 1 x 10(-7).) in IL-1, and for the group, a mean 48.1% elevation (t[5] = 4.128, p = .003) occurred, during the stimulus interval relative to baseline. When baselines were repeated, IL-1 activity rapidly returned toward baseline values. Suggestions to picture one's immune cells fighting illness appeared to have no uniform effect for all subjects. Such rapid changes in plasma IL-1, concomitant with stimuli, indicate a new way to alter immune function and further understand disease susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Providence Medical Center, Portland, Oregan.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Keppel
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Heffeneider
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramsey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1