title: Immunosuppressive effect of restraint stress on the initiation of allergic rhinitis in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to acute stressors modulates both innate and acquired immune function. However, little is known about whether stress has the potential to modulate the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of acute restraint stress on the initiation of allergic rhinitis in a murine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBA/J mice were repeatedly intranasally sensitized with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from honeybee venom without adjuvant. Restraint stress was applied using uniform cylinders once a week for a continuous 8-hour period, on five occasions in total. Production of PLA2-specific antibodies and degree of nasal and blood eosinophilia were compared between stressed and control mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated intranasal sensitization with PLA2 induced PLA2-specific IgE and marked eosinophilia in both the nose and blood in CBA/J mice. Exposure to restraint stress significantly inhibited production of PLA2-specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a. Conversely, the stress exerted no significant effect on eosinophilia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to acute restraint stress inhibits antigen-specific antibody production, but not local or systemic eosinophilia. The results of this study suggest that acute stress has the potential to modulate the initiation of allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Takinomiya General Hospital, Kagawa, Japan. ICK44289@nifty.com
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichihara
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ichihara
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishizaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D023421:Models, Animal; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000276:immunology*; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001514:Bee Venoms; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2