title: Decreased immune response in alexithymic women: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: It has been reported in a few studies that alexithymia is associated with impaired immune response but results are still contradictory. The present study investigates whether alexithymia is associated with lower cell-mediated (Th-1) immune response. Fifty-one healthy 18-27-year-old women were selected from healthy subjects on the basis of high or low cut-off scores on the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). They were evaluated using standardized psychiatric rating scales notably the Hospital Anxiety Depressive Scale (HAD) and the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). None of the subjects were suffering from psychiatric disorders. Twenty-seven were classified as alexithymics and 24 as non-alexithymics according to the TAS-20. Blood was drawn for lymphocyte subset counts (CD4, CD8), in vitro production of interleukin 1 (IL-1beta), IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 by phytohaemagglutinin stimulated peripheral lymphocytes, and cortisol. Women with alexithymia exhibited decreased interleukin 1beta, IL-2 and IL-4 production with reduced ratios of Th1/Th2 (IL-2/IL-10) and of CD4/CD8, as well as reduced CD4 percentages. IL-2 and IL-4 production remained significantly diminished in the alexithymic group, even after adjusting for between-group differences in anxiety and depression levels on the HAD. This study further demonstrates that alexithymic women have altered immune function, with a predominance of depressed cell-mediated immunity and a skewed Th1/Th2 ratio towards Th2 response.
authors.affiliation: Département de Psychiatrie de l'adolescent et du jeune adulte, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris, France. olivier.guilbaud@imm.fr
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guilbaud
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Curt
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chaouat
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berthoz
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dugré-Le Bigre
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wallier
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strebler
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Touitou
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jeammet
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corcos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D006854:Hydrocortisone