Impaired immune function in a homeless population with stress-related disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Homeless people suffer high levels of psychological distress. The aim of the present work was to study the immune function in a group of homeless people with stress-related disorders and compare it with that of healthy non-homeless controls.


METHODS
We included in the study 40 homeless persons and 40 housed controls recruited from the population of Madrid and matched for age and gender. Samples from peripheral blood were collected and we studied several leukocyte functions previously described as good health and survival markers [adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, superoxide anion levels, lymphocyte proliferation in response to phytohemagglutinin, NK activity and cytokine (IL-2, TNF-alpha) levels], as well as other related parameters, such as plasma cortisol levels and total antioxidant capacity.


RESULTS
There was a strongly suppressed immune response in the homeless group, with decreased adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, superoxide levels, lymphoproliferation and NK activity. IL-2 and plasma antioxidant levels were also impaired.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest an altered immune function in the homeless population that might be responsible for the higher morbidity and mortality of homeless people. In addition, the present work points out directions for future research attempting to increase the quality of life and health status of homeless individuals, since it shows that oxidative stress seems to play a key role in this immune function impairment.
Department of Physiology (Animal Physiology II), Faculty of Biology, Madrid Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
Lorena
L
Arranz
Aída
A
de Vicente
Manuel
M
Muñoz
Mónica
M
De la Fuente
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D000975:Antioxidants; D007376:Interleukin-2