title: Differential effects of laughter on allergen-specific immunoglobulin and neurotrophin levels in tears.
abstract: Laughter after viewing a humorous video "Modern Times" decreased Japanese cedar pollen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgG4 levels, while it enhanced Japanese cedar pollen-specific IgA levels in tears of patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis, while viewing a nonhumorous weather information video did not do so. Laughter after viewing "Modern Times" also decreased nerve growth factor levels without affecting neurotrophin-3 levels in tears of those patients, while viewing a weather information video did not. These results indicate that laughter decreased allergen-specific IgE and IgG4 production and increased allergen-specific IgA production with concomitant decrease in nerve growth factor. These results indicate that laughter may have some implications for study and treatment of allergic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Ujitakeda Hospital, Uji-City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. h-kimata@takedahp.or.jp
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000485:Allergens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism*; D007845:Laughter; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D007073:Immunoglobulin E