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.
Division of Psychosomatic Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashicho Kodaira, Tokyo 187 8502, Japan.
Takao
T
Miyazaki
Toshio
T
Ishikawa
Akinori
A
Nakata
Takashi
T
Sakurai
Akiko
A
Miki
Osamu
O
Fujita
Fumio
F
Kobayashi
Takashi
T
Haratani
Hirofumi
H
Iimori
Shotaro
S
Sakami
Yousuke
Y
Fujioka
Noriyuki
N
Kawamura
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