Chronic stress alters the immune response to influenza virus vaccine in older adults.
To determine whether a chronic stressor (caregiving for a spouse with a progressive dementia) is associated with an impaired immune response to influenza virus vaccination, we compared 32 caregivers' vaccine responses with those of 32 sex-, age-, and socioeconomically matched control subjects. Caregivers showed a poorer antibody response following vaccination relative to control subjects as assessed by two independent methods, ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition. Caregivers also had lower levels of in vitro virus-specific-induced interleukin 2 levels and interleukin 1beta; interleukin 6 did not differ between groups. These data demonstrate that down-regulation of the immune response to influenza virus vaccination is associated with a chronic stressor in the elderly. These results could have implications for vulnerability to infection among older adults.
Kiecolt-Glaser
J K
JK
Department of Psychiatry, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus 43210, USA.
Glaser
R
R
Gravenstein
S
S
Malarkey
W B
WB
Sheridan
J
J
D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D015415:Biomarkers; D017028:Caregivers; D003704:Dementia; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D018454:Spouses; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins