Influence of chronic, current and acute stress on the delayed type hypersensitivity in healthy men

Completed Research Project

Title / Titel: Influence of chronic, current and acute stress on the delayed type hypersensitivity in healthy men

Summary / Zusammenfassung: Stress-induced release of glucocorticoids has been shown to influence an array of immunological processes, such as the secretion of cytokines, control of viral replication and activity of specific immune cells. Recently, Dhabhar et al. have reported glucocorticoid-dependent changes in distribution of peripheral leukocytes and stress-induced enhancement of skin immune function. Since testing of skin immune function are a standard procedure to evaluate the cellular immune capacity in humans, we set out to investigate the influence of chronic, current and acute stress on the delayed type hypersensitivity in healthy men.
25 healthy men were repeatedly administered the DTH test (Multitest Merieux) under a rest and standardized stress (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST) condition, with an interval of three weeks. The DTH test was administered 30 minutes before either condition. During the TSST, salivary cortisol levels and heart rate was assessed. Also, levels of chronic and current stress were assessed with two questionnaires.
DTH responses did not differ between the two testing condition nor did the salivary free cortisol response in both conditions had any association with DTH responses. Also, levels of perceived chronic, current and acute stress were not associated with the DTH responses.
Although it is has been shown that acute psychosocial stress alters levels of certain immune parameters, these findings indicate that DTH response in healthy men are not influenced by neuroendocrine stress responses nor perceived levels of chronic, current or acute stress.

Publications / Publikationen: Gaab, J., Berger, S., Jud, A., Nater, U., Schmid, P. Ehlert U. (2003). Influence of chronic, current and acute stress on the delayed type hypersensitivity in healthy men. Conference proceeding , Psychosomatic Medicine, 65/1, A45.

Keywords / Suchbegriffe: Delayed Type Hypersensitivity, stress, psychoneuroimmunology

Project Leadership and Contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte

Dr. phil. Jens Gaab (Project Leader)	jgaab@klipsy.uzh.ch
Prof. Ulrike Ehlert	ehlertu@klipsy.uzh.ch
PD. Dr. med Peter Schmid	schmidps@yahoo.com

Funding Source(s) / Unterstützt durch: Foundation
Stiftung für Wissenschaftliche Forschung der Universität Zürich, Schweiz.

Duration of Project / Projektdauer: Feb 2002 to Jun 2002