Environmental and occupational stress and autoimmunity.
The immune system and the neuroendocrine system machinery modulate each other, including life events-induced stresses and interpersonal conflicts, promoting the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines, overproduction of which influence behaviour. In addition, the balance of systemic and local pro-inflammatory cytokines to systemic and local anti-inflammatory cytokines, is impaired to such an extent that, in genetically-predisposed individuals, this aberrancy may lead to autoimmune diseases. Occupational stress likely influences their onset. For example, subclinical autoimmune hypothyroidism has been identified in numerous shift-workers of an Italian hospital. Such a threat impacts the policy of health surveillance of the workers and requires dedication of further studies to the relationship between occupational stress and autoimmunity.
Boscolo
Paolo
P
Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine and Aging, Medical School, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy. boscolo@unich.it
Youinou
Pierre
P
Theoharides
Theoharis C
TC
Cerulli
G
G
Conti
Pio
P
D015551:Autoimmunity; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004782:Environmental Health; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016272:Occupational Health; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines