Behavioral conditioning of immunosuppression is possible in humans.
Behavioral conditioned immunosuppression has been described in rodents as the most impressive demonstration of brain-to-immune system interaction. To analyze whether behavioral conditioned immunosuppression is possible in humans, healthy subjects in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study were conditioned in four sessions over 3 consecutive days, receiving the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A as an unconditioned stimulus paired with a distinctively flavored drink (conditioned stimulus) each 12 h. In the next week, re-exposure to the conditioned stimulus (drink), but now paired with placebo capsules, induced a suppression of immune functions as analyzed by the IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression, intracellular production, and in vitro release of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, as well as lymphocyte proliferation. These data demonstrate for the first time that immunosuppression can be behaviorally conditioned in humans.
Goebel
Marion U
MU
Department of Medical Psychology, University of Essen, Essen, Germany.
Trebst
Almuth E
AE
Steiner
Jan
J
Xie
Yu F
YF
Exton
Michael S
MS
Frede
Stilla
S
Canbay
Ali E
AE
Michel
Martin C
MC
Heemann
Uwe
U
Schedlowski
Manfred
M
D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016572:Cyclosporine