Granulocyte activation in humans is modulated by psychological stress and relaxation.

Full Abstract

Our aim was to study the possible relationship between psychological stress and granulocyte activation primarily in healthy students during an examination period (n = 11) and also in chronically anxious patients (n = 15). We employed cell surface markers:
lactoferrin, L-selectin, alphaMbeta2-integrin and CD15s and flow cytometry to detect changes in the activation state of granulocytes, with the start of the stressed state in students at the beginning of an examination period, which was associated with elevated blood plasma cortisol level, and following relaxation hypnosis in both students, during their examination term, and patients. The ratios of all four types of marker-carrier granulocytes increased at the start of the examination period in students; an especially dramatic (ca. 5-fold) enhancement was observed in the proportion of lactoferrin-bearing cells relatively to the pre-examination term value. After hypnosis, the percentage of lactoferrin-exposing granulocytes decreased considerably both in students and in patients, by about half; a similar decrease was observed in the ratio of CD15s-carrier cells in patients. No significant alteration was observed during the study in state or trait anxiety levels, and in total or differential leukocyte counts. Thus, granulocyte activation could be associated with stress, while relaxation may facilitate reducing activation of these cells. In both groups of subjects, granulocyte surface lactoferrin appeared to be a sensitive "stress indicator". This needs further evaluation.

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Author information

Author/s: Keresztes, Margit (M); Rudisch, Tibor (T); Tajti, János (J); Ocsovszki, Imre (I); Gardi, János (J);

Affiliation: Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Szeged, Hungary. margo(-atsign-)biochem.szote.u-szeged.hu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands) (Stress), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Aug; vol 10 (issue 3) : pp 271-81

Dates: Created 2007/07/06; Completed 2007/10/02;

PMID: 17613941, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Antigens, CD15 - blood
Anxiety - blood; immunology
Biological Markers - blood
Case-Control Studies
Female
Flow Cytometry
Granulocytes - immunology; metabolism
Humans
Hydrocortisone - blood

Hypnosis
L-Selectin - blood
Lactoferrin - blood
Leukocyte Count
Macrophage-1 Antigen - blood
Male
Middle Aged
Relaxation
Relaxation Techniques
Stress, Psychological - blood; immunology

Associated Chemicals: Antigens, CD15 (0) ; Biological Markers (0) ; Lactoferrin (0) ; Macrophage-1 Antigen (0) ; L-Selectin (126880-86-2) ; Hydrocortisone (50-23-7)

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