Acute and chronic stress exert opposing effects on antibody responses associated with changes in stress hormone regulation of T-lymphocyte reactivity.
Here we show that stress exerts a differential effect on T-cell-dependent antibody production. IgG production is augmented after acute stress and impaired in a chronic situation. We found catecholamines and corticosterone levels were increased in acute situations although they were not modified after prolonged stress conditions. However, lymphocyte sensitivity to corticosterone and catecholamines was altered under stress conditions. These results point out the role of the adrenal's hormones as mediators of the differential effects of stress on the immune response providing the basis for a functional significance of stress hormone receptors on lymphocytes.
Silberman
Dafne M
DM
Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Serrano 669, 3rd floor, CP 1414, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Wald
Miriam R
MR
Genaro
Ana María
AM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012756:Sheep; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D002395:Catecholamines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D003345:Corticosterone