title: [The effect of psychic stress on the immune response].
abstract: Linkage between the central nervous system and the immune system is obvious and is accomplished through the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and sympathetic-adrenal medullary (SAM) axes. This review focuses on the effects of psychic stress in animals and humans on immune system function. The effects of stress depend on its duration, type, and intensity. Generally, mild stress enhances the immune response. The effects of stress also depend on the animal's behavioral profile, genetic background and preexposure to stressful conditions. Prenatal stress modifies the immune response of the offspring. Stress also modifies autoimmune reactions in animals and humans. Knowledge of the mediators and their receptors involved in the functioning of the HPA and SAM axes allows pharmacological intervention to alleviate the harmful effects of stress on the immune system. Our studies revealed a benefit of oral lactoferrin application in reversing stress-induced changes in the humoral and cellular immune response in mice.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Terapii Doświadczalnej Instytutu Immunologii i Terapii Doświadczalnej PAN im. Ludwika Hirszfelda we Wrocławiu. zimecki@iitd.pan.wroc.pl
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimecki
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Artym
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D015551:Autoimmunity; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009420:Nervous System / Q000276:immunology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D007781:Lactoferrin