Chronic stress associated with spousal caregiving of patients with Alzheimer's dementia is associated with downregulation of B-lymphocyte GH mRNA.
BACKGROUND
It has been demonstrated that growth hormone (GH) is synthesized and secreted by human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC), and the expression of GH mRNA can be found throughout the human immune system.


METHODS
We studied a population of female caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD) who suffered from the stress of caring for these patients. We utilized quantitative RT-PCR to determine GH mRNA levels in T- and B-cell populations from PBMC. Subjects were nine caregivers of AD patients and nine age- and sex-matched controls.


RESULTS
In the control group we found a threefold greater GH mRNA expression in B cells than in T cells. This finding was consistent with our previous in situ hybridization observation, suggesting GH mRNA in predominately B-cell areas of immune organs in humans. We also found that the expression of GH mRNA from total peripheral blood mononuclear cells and B cells in caregivers was 50% and 60% respectively less than that in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Because the B-cell population is the source of antibody production, our findings suggest that the decrease in B-cell GH mRNA may contribute to the poor immune response to influenza virus vaccination that has been reported previously in chronically stressed caregivers.
Wu
H
H
Department of Medicine, The Ohio State University, USA.
Wang
J
J
Cacioppo
J T
JT
Glaser
R
R
Kiecolt-Glaser
J K
JK
Malarkey
W B
WB
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017028:Caregivers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018454:Spouses; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019382:Human Growth Hormone