Association between perceived social support and Th1 dominance.
Social support is supposed to have a positive health effect via alteration of immunity. In this study, associations between perceived social support and immune systems were examined. Immunological assessments, e.g. T cell count, Natural Killer cell count, Interferon-gamma, Interleukin-4, and psychological assessments, e.g. Generic Job Stress Questionnaire were conducted on male employees. Two-way (social support x job stressor) analyses of covariance controlling for age, smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise revealed that there were main effects of perceived social support on NK cell counts, IL-4, and Th1/Th2 balance. On the other hand, interaction effects were observed on T cell counts and INF-gamma production in vitro. Social support affects immune function in a way that is consistent with both the direct and buffering hypotheses depending on the sources of support and the immune parameter.
Miyazaki
Takao
T
Division of Psychosomatic Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashicho Kodaira, Tokyo 187 8502, Japan.
Ishikawa
Toshio
T
Nakata
Akinori
A
Sakurai
Takashi
T
Miki
Akiko
A
Fujita
Osamu
O
Kobayashi
Fumio
F
Haratani
Takashi
T
Iimori
Hirofumi
H
Sakami
Shotaro
S
Fujioka
Yousuke
Y
Kawamura
Noriyuki
N
D000328:Adult; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D010465:Perception; D012907:Smoking; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000378:metabolism*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma