Progenitor cells are mobilized by acute psychological stress but not beta-adrenergic receptor agonist infusion.
OBJECTIVE
Stimuli that activate the sympathetic nervous system, such as acute psychological stress, rapidly invoke a robust mobilization of lymphocytes into the circulation. Experimental animal studies suggest that bone marrow-derived progenitor cells (PCs) also mobilize in response to sympathetic stimulation. Here we tested the effects of acute psychological stress and brief pharmacological β-adrenergic (βAR) stimulation on peripheral PC numbers in humans.


METHODS
In two studies, we investigated PC mobilization in response to an acute speech task (n=26) and βAR-agonist (isoproterenol) infusion (n=20). A subset of 8 participants also underwent the infusion protocol with concomitant administration of the βAR-antagonist propranolol. Flow cytometry was used to enumerate lymphocyte subsets, total progenitor cells, total haematopoietic stem cells (HSC), early HSC (multi-lineage potential), late HSC (lineage committed), and endothelial PCs (EPCs).


RESULTS
Both psychological stress and βAR-agonist infusion caused the expected mobilization of total monocytes and lymphocytes and CD8(+) T lymphocytes. Psychological stress also induced a modest, but significant, increase in total PCs, HSCs, and EPC numbers in peripheral blood. However, infusion of a βAR-agonist did not result in a significant change in circulating PCs.


CONCLUSIONS
PCs are rapidly mobilized by psychological stress via mechanisms independent of βAR-stimulation, although the findings do not exclude βAR-stimulation as a possible cofactor. Considering the clinical and physiological relevance, further research into the mechanisms involved in stress-induced PC mobilization seems warranted.
Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address: n.riddell@ucl.ac.uk.
Natalie E
NE
Riddell
School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK.
Victoria E
VE
Burns
School of Immunity and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK.
Graham R
GR
Wallace
Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia.
Kate M
KM
Edwards
School of Immunity and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK.
Mark
M
Drayson
Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA.
Laura S
LS
Redwine
Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA.
Suzi
S
Hong
Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA.
Jack C
JC
Bui
Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Germany.
Johannes C
JC
Fischer
Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA.
Paul J
PJ
Mills
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.a.bosch@bham.ac.uk.
Jos A
JA
Bosch
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000276:immunology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013060:Speech; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D017252:CD3 Complex; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011433:Propranolol; D007545:Isoproterenol
Adrenergic; Mobilization; Progenitor cells; Psychological stress; βAR-stimulation