title: β-arrestin 2-mediated immune suppression induced by chronic stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stress, either physical or psychological, can modulate immune function. However, the mechanisms associated with stress-induced immune suppression remain to be elucidated. β-Arrestin 2 serves as adaptor, scaffold, and/or signal transducer. The role of β-arrestin 2 in stress-induced immune suppression is not known yet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we demonstrate that β-arrestin 2 deficiency in mice increases the sensitivity to the chronic stress-induced reduction in the number of splenocytes. Interestingly, the stress-induced suppression of T helper-type (Th) 1 cytokines and the increased production of Th2 cytokines were greatly enhanced in β-arrestin 2-deficient mice compared with wild-type mice. Moreover, inhibition of PI3K in β-arrestin 2-deficient mice exerts an additive effect on the stress-induced reduction in the number of splenocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates that a deficiency in β-arrestin 2 augments stress-induced immune suppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, James Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dean Andrew
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Smalligan
authors.forename: Nanchang
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Avani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javer
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: Deling
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019390:Arrestins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*; D000071560:beta-Arrestin 2; D000071557:beta-Arrestins
chemical_list: C000605258:Arrb2 protein, mouse; D019390:Arrestins; D000071560:beta-Arrestin 2; D000071557:beta-Arrestins