Temporal stability of acute stressor-induced changes in cellular immunity

Int J Psychophysiol. 1995 Apr;19(3):287-90. doi: 10.1016/0167-8760(95)00012-h.

Abstract

This study examined the temporal stability of enumerative immune responses to acute psychosocial stress. Lymphocyte subsets were measured in 24 healthy male subjects at rest and following a speaking stressor on two occasions approximately six weeks apart. The speaking task caused significant increases in T-suppressor/cytotoxic cells, natural killer cells, T-cells, and total WBC and decreases in the T-helper/suppressor ratio. Baseline test-retest correlation's were statistically significant for all variables (r values = 0.40-0.90). With two exceptions (T-cells and T-suppressor/cytotoxic cells), speaking task values (absolute reactivity scores) were also statistically significant (r values = 0.48-0.92). Baseline adjusted test-retest correlations were however generally less reliable, with only natural killer cells (r values > 0.40), the T-helper/suppressor ratio (r = 0.60), and total WBC (r = 0.48) showing statistical significance. The findings suggest that certain but not all cellular immune responses to acute stress are moderately stable over time.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular / physiology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Stress, Psychological / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • Time Factors