title: Stress and allergic diseases.
abstract: Allergy describes a constellation of clinical diseases that affect up to 30% of the world's population. It is characterized by production of allergen-specific IgE, which binds to mast cells and initiates a cascade of molecular and cellular events that affect the respiratory tract (rhinitis and asthma), skin (dermatitis, urticaria), and multiple systems (anaphylaxis) in response to a variety of allergens including pollens, mold spores, animal danders, insect stings, foods, and drugs. The underlying pathophysiology involves immunoregulatory dysfunctions similar to those noted in highly stressed populations. The relationships in terms of potential for intervention are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Immunology Research, Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216-4505, USA. ndave@umc.edu
authors.forename: Ninabahen D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Dave
authors.forename: Lianbin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Kristina E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Rehm
authors.forename: Gailen D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E