Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 5 June 1981:
Vol. 212. no. 4499, pp. 1100 - 1109
DOI: 10.1126/science.7233204
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Science, Vol 212, Issue 4499, 1100-1109
Copyright © 1981 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Psychoneuroendocrine influences on immunocompetence and neoplasia

V Riley

Emotional, psychosocial, or anxiety-stimulated stress produces increased plasma concentrations of adrenal corticoids and other hormones though well-known neuroendocrine pathways. A direct consequence of these increased corticoid concentrations is injury to elements of the immunological apparatus, which may leve the subject vulnerable to the action of latent oncogenic viruses, newly transformed cancer cells, or other incipient pathological processes that are normally held in check by an intact immunological apparatus. This article describes studies that examine the adverse effects of increased plasma concentrations of adrenal corticoids on the thymus and thymus-dependent T cells, inasmuch as these elements constitute a major defense system against various neoplastic processes and other pathologies. The studies demonstrate that anxiety-stress can be quantitatively induced and the consequences measured through specific biochemical and cellular parameters, providing that authentic quiescent baselines of these conditions are obtained in the experimental animals by the use of low-stress protective housing and handling techniques.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Effects of the Conventional Antitumor Therapies Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy on Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Cancer Patients.
P. LISSONI, F. BRIVIO, L. FUMAGALLI, G. MESSINA, S. MEREGALLI, G. PORRO, F. ROVELLI, L. VIGORE, E. TISI, and G. D'AMICO (2009)
Anticancer Res 29, 1847-1852
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Photoperiod Differentially Affects Immune Function and Reproduction in Collared Lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus).
Z. M. Weil, L. B. Martin II, and R. J. Nelson (2006)
J Biol Rhythms 21, 384-393
   Abstract »    PDF »
Modeling and Predicting Stress-Induced Immunosuppression in Mice Using Blood Parameters.
C. L. Schwab, R. Fan, Q. Zheng, L. P. Myers, P. Hebert, and S. B. Pruett (2005)
Toxicol. Sci. 83, 101-113
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Pyruvate Prevents Restraint-Induced Immunosuppression via Alterations in Glucocorticoid Responses.
G. N. Neigh, S. L. Bowers, L. M. Pyter, M. L. Gatien, and R. J. Nelson (2004)
Endocrinology 145, 4309-4319
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Caregiving Stress, Endogenous Sex Steroid Hormone Levels, and Breast Cancer Incidence.
C. H. Kroenke, S. E. Hankinson, E. S. Schernhammer, G. A. Colditz, I. Kawachi, and M. D. Holmes (2004)
Am. J. Epidemiol. 159, 1019-1027
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Human-Animal Interaction: A Complementary/Alternative Medical (CAM) Intervention for Cancer Patients.
R. A. Johnson, R. L. Meadows, J. S. Haubner, and K. Sevedge (2003)
American Behavioral Scientist 47, 55-69
   Abstract »    PDF »
Effects of Psychological Stress and Alprazolam on Development of Oral Candidiasis in Rats.
M. J. Nunez, J. Balboa, P. Riveiro, D. Linares, P. Mana, M. Rey-Mendez, A. Rodriguez-Cobos, J. A. Suarez-Quintanilla, L. A. Garcia-Vallejo, and M. Freire-Garabal (2002)
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 9, 852-857
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Animal-Assisted Interventions Research: Issues and Answers.
R. A. Johnson, J. S. J. Odendaal, and R. L. Meadows (2002)
West J Nurs Res 24, 422-440
   Abstract »    PDF »
Effects of Social Housing Condition on Chemotherapeutic Efficacy in a Shionogi Carcinoma (SC115) Mouse Tumor Model: Influences of Temporal Factors, Tumor Size, and Tumor Growth Rate.
L. R. Kerr, R. Hundal, W. A. Silva, J. T. Emerman, and J. Weinberg (2001)
Psychosom Med 63, 973-984
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Stress and the Skin.
F. A. Tausk and H. Nousari (2001)
Arch Dermatol 137, 78-82
   Full Text »    PDF »
Effects of Amphetamine on Development of Oral Candidiasis in Rats.
M. Freire-Garabal, M. J. Nunez, J. Balboa, A. Rodriguez-Cobo, J. M. Lopez-Paz, M. Rey-Mendez, J. A. Suarez-Quintanilla, J. C. Millan, and J. M. Mayan (1999)
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 6, 530-533
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Healing Words: Emotional Expression and Disease Outcome.
D. Spiegel (1999)
JAMA 281, 1328-1329
   Full Text »    PDF »
Architecturally Mediated Effects of Social Density in Prison.
M. A. Schaeffer, A. Baum, P. B. Paulus, and G. G. Gaes (1988)
Environment and Behavior 20, 3-20
   Abstract »
Increases in Cancer Rates Among Blacks.
H. Hall and X. Bell (1985)
Journal of Black Psychology 12, 1-14
   Abstract »
Psychoneuroimmunology: The New Frontier.
J. B. JEMMOTT III (1985)
American Behavioral Scientist 28, 497-509
Stress-induced suppression of immunity in adrenalectomized rats.
S. Keller, J. Weiss, S. Schleifer, N. Miller, and M Stein (1983)
Science 221, 1301-1304
   Abstract »    PDF »
Coping and immunosuppression: inescapable but not escapable shock suppresses lymphocyte proliferation.
M. Laudenslager, S. Ryan, R. Drugan, R. Hyson, and S. Maier (1983)
Science 221, 568-570
   Abstract »    PDF »
Physiological correlates of prolonged sleep deprivation in rats.
A Rechtschaffen, M. Gilliland, B. Bergmann, and J. Winter (1983)
Science 221, 182-184
   Abstract »    PDF »
Genetically obese mice: resistance to metastasis of B16 melanoma and enhanced T-lymphocyte mitogenic responses.
C. Thompson, J. Kreider, P. Black, T. Schmidt, and D. Margules (1983)
Science 220, 1183-1185
   Abstract »    PDF »
Benzodiazepine receptor-mediated experimental "anxiety" in primates.
P. Ninan, T. Insel, R. Cohen, J. Cook, P Skolnick, and S. Paul (1982)
Science 218, 1332-1334
   Abstract »    PDF »
An Analysis of the Carcinogenesis Testing Experience of the National Cancer Institute.
G. H. H. DVM and I. J. Pachter (1982)
Toxicol Pathol 10, 22-26
   Abstract »    PDF »
Excess "read-through" acetylcholinesterase attenuates but the "synaptic" variant intensifies neurodeterioration correlates.
M. Sternfeld, S. Shoham, O. Klein, C. Flores-Flores, T. Evron, G. H. Idelson, D. Kitsberg, J. W. Patrick, and H. Soreq (2000)
PNAS 97, 8647-8652
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)