title: Effect of perceived stress on cytokine production in healthy college students.
abstract: Chronic psychological stress impairs antibody synthesis following influenza vaccination. Chronic stress also increases circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines and glucocorticoids in elders and caregivers, which can impair antibody synthesis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether psychological stress increases ex vivo cytokine production or decreases glucocorticoid sensitivity (GCS) of peripheral blood leukocytes from healthy college students. A convenience sample of Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) students completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Whole blood was incubated in the presence of influenza vaccine and dexamethasone to evaluate production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Multiple regression models controlling for age, gender, and grade point average revealed a negative relationship between PSS and GCS for vaccine-stimulated production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. These data increase our understanding of the complex relationship between chronic stress and immune function.
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA, USA Vorachai.Sribanditmongkol@med.navy.mil.
authors.forename: Vorachai
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sribanditmongkol
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Thelma E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Szalacha
authors.affiliation: Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Donna O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014495:Universities
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: cytokines; glucocorticoid sensitivity; influenza; stress