OT: Exam stress affects the immune system of allergy sufferers....good read...

[Guest guest]

Exam stress affects the immune system of allergy sufferers

23 August 2006

Clin Exp Allergy 2006; 36: 982 & shy;992

Results of a Swedish study show that the stress of exams can have a

significant impact on a student's immune system, especially if he or she has

asthma or allergies.

Dr Mats Lekander and colleagues from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm

explain that, in the West, immune system-related conditions such as asthma

and allergies are becoming increasingly common while people are living

increasingly stressful lives.

To investigate the association between stress and allergic conditions, the

researchers studied 22 undergraduate students with asthma or allergies and

19 without such diseases during a low-stress period in which no exams were

taken and a high-stress situation associated with an important exam.

On both occasions, the participants underwent a variety of tests to their

measure stress levels, immune system function and allergic reactions.

The researchers found that levels of immune system cells called regulatory T

cells, which control the activity of a number of other types of immune cell,

increased significantly in both groups of students in response to the mental

stress of exams.

The findings also revealed that, in response to exam stress, blood

concentrations of a group of inflammation products, called cytokines,

changed to a pattern associated with allergic inflammation in the students

with asthma and allergies, but remained normal in the healthy students.

Dr Lekander explained that the two findings may well be linked. He said:

" There is much to suggest that the regulatory T cells are dysfunctional in

people with allergies. When people become stressed, they increase in number

and normally have an anti-inflammatory effect.

" If this system does not work in people with allergies, it could explain the

changed cytokine balance that we have observed in them. "

The researchers conclude that their findings support the view that that

there are important links between mental stress and the complex physical

inflammation reactions characteristic of allergies.

The research is published in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy.

Clinical & Experimental Allergy

Volume 36 Page 982 - August 2006

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02529.x

Volume 36 Issue 8

ORIGINAL PAPER

Changes in immune regulation in response to examination stress in atopic and

healthy individuals

C. Olgart Höglund*, J. Axén§, C. Kemi*, S. Jernelöv§, J. Grunewald*, C.

Müller-Suur*, Y. *§, R. Grönneberg*, A. Eklund*, P. Stierna¶ and M.

Lekander§#

Summary

Background Stress can aggravate the allergic inflammation, but determinants

of disturbed immune regulation are largely unknown.

Objective To determine systemic immunological, local inflammatory and

functional airway responses to stress in healthy and atopic individuals.

Methods Forty-one undergraduate students, 22 with allergy of whom 16 had

asthma, and 19 healthy controls, were studied in a low-stress period and in

association with a large exam. Subjects completed questionnaires on stress

and health behaviours, underwent lung function tests, bronchial methacholine

challenge, measurements of exhaled nitric oxide and urine cortisol. Blood

cells were phenotyped, and cytokines from mononuclear blood cells were

analysed.

Results Perceived stress and anxiety increased in both groups during the

exam period while cortisol increased only in the atopy group. Cytokine

production decreased broadly in response to stress in both groups, which was

paralleled by an increase in the proportion of regulatory T cells

(CD4+CD45RO+CD25bright). Interestingly, atopic individuals, but not

controls, reacted with a decreased T-helper type 1/T-helper type 2 (Th1/Th2)

ratio and a decrease in natural killer (NK) cell numbers in response to

stress. In control subjects only, exhaled nitric oxide decreased and forced

expiratory volume in one second increased during stress.

Conclusion Atopic and non-atopic subjects shared some immune changes in

response to stress, such as a dramatic decline in cytokines and an increase

in the number of regulatory T cells in peripheral blood. However, other

stress-induced immune changes were unique to atopic individuals, such as a

skewed Th1/Th2 ratio and reduced NK cell numbers, indicating that some

pathogenic mechanisms in atopics may be more strongly affected by stress

than others.

[Guest guest]

thank you,great find. so if something is causeing your immune system

to disfunction, you well suffer increased stress, anixity and

depression.

--- In , LymeAngl@...

wrote:

>

> Exam stress affects the immune system of allergy sufferers

> 23 August 2006

> Clin Exp Allergy 2006; 36: 982 & shy;992

> Results of a Swedish study show that the stress of exams can have a

> significant impact on a student's immune system, especially if he

or she has

> asthma or allergies.

>

> Dr Mats Lekander and colleagues from the Karolinska Institute in

Stockholm

> explain that, in the West, immune system-related conditions such

as asthma

> and allergies are becoming increasingly common while people are

living

> increasingly stressful lives.

>

> To investigate the association between stress and allergic

conditions, the

> researchers studied 22 undergraduate students with asthma or

allergies and

> 19 without such diseases during a low-stress period in which no

exams were

> taken and a high-stress situation associated with an important

exam.

>

> On both occasions, the participants underwent a variety of tests

to their

> measure stress levels, immune system function and allergic

reactions.

>

> The researchers found that levels of immune system cells called

regulatory T

> cells, which control the activity of a number of other types of

immune cell,

> increased significantly in both groups of students in response to

the mental

> stress of exams.

>

> The findings also revealed that, in response to exam stress, blood

> concentrations of a group of inflammation products, called

cytokines,

> changed to a pattern associated with allergic inflammation in the

students

> with asthma and allergies, but remained normal in the healthy

students.

>

> Dr Lekander explained that the two findings may well be linked. He

said:

> " There is much to suggest that the regulatory T cells are

dysfunctional in

> people with allergies. When people become stressed, they increase

in number

> and normally have an anti-inflammatory effect.

>

> " If this system does not work in people with allergies, it could

explain the

> changed cytokine balance that we have observed in them. "

>

> The researchers conclude that their findings support the view that

that

> there are important links between mental stress and the complex

physical

> inflammation reactions characteristic of allergies.

>

> The research is published in the journal Clinical & Experimental

Allergy.

>

> Clinical & Experimental Allergy

> Volume 36 Page 982 - August 2006

> doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02529.x

> Volume 36 Issue 8

>

>

> ORIGINAL PAPER

> Changes in immune regulation in response to examination stress in

atopic and

> healthy individuals

> C. Olgart Höglund*, J. Axén§, C. Kemi*, S. Jernelöv§, J.

Grunewald*, C.

> Müller-Suur*, Y. *§, R. Grönneberg*, A. Eklund*, P. Stierna¶

and M.

> Lekander§#

> Summary

> Background Stress can aggravate the allergic inflammation, but

determinants

> of disturbed immune regulation are largely unknown.

>

> Objective To determine systemic immunological, local inflammatory

and

> functional airway responses to stress in healthy and atopic

individuals.

>

> Methods Forty-one undergraduate students, 22 with allergy of whom

16 had

> asthma, and 19 healthy controls, were studied in a low-stress

period and in

> association with a large exam. Subjects completed questionnaires

on stress

> and health behaviours, underwent lung function tests, bronchial

methacholine

> challenge, measurements of exhaled nitric oxide and urine

cortisol. Blood

> cells were phenotyped, and cytokines from mononuclear blood cells

were

> analysed.

>

> Results Perceived stress and anxiety increased in both groups

during the

> exam period while cortisol increased only in the atopy group.

Cytokine

> production decreased broadly in response to stress in both groups,

which was

> paralleled by an increase in the proportion of regulatory T cells

> (CD4+CD45RO+CD25bright). Interestingly, atopic individuals, but not

> controls, reacted with a decreased T-helper type 1/T-helper type 2

(Th1/Th2)

> ratio and a decrease in natural killer (NK) cell numbers in

response to

> stress. In control subjects only, exhaled nitric oxide decreased

and forced

> expiratory volume in one second increased during stress.

>

> Conclusion Atopic and non-atopic subjects shared some immune

changes in

> response to stress, such as a dramatic decline in cytokines and an

increase

> in the number of regulatory T cells in peripheral blood. However,

other

> stress-induced immune changes were unique to atopic individuals,

such as a

> skewed Th1/Th2 ratio and reduced NK cell numbers, indicating that

some

> pathogenic mechanisms in atopics may be more strongly affected by

stress

> than others.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

yes it all increases your total load. a support group is great for allieviating

stress.

who <jeaninem660@...> wrote: thank you,great find. so if

something is causeing your immune system

to disfunction, you well suffer increased stress, anixity and

depression.

--- In , LymeAngl@...

wrote:

>

> Exam stress affects the immune system of allergy sufferers

> 23 August 2006

> Clin Exp Allergy 2006; 36: 982 & shy;992

> Results of a Swedish study show that the stress of exams can have a

> significant impact on a student's immune system, especially if he

or she has

> asthma or allergies.

>

> Dr Mats Lekander and colleagues from the Karolinska Institute in

Stockholm

> explain that, in the West, immune system-related conditions such

as asthma

> and allergies are becoming increasingly common while people are

living

> increasingly stressful lives.

>

> To investigate the association between stress and allergic

conditions, the

> researchers studied 22 undergraduate students with asthma or

allergies and

> 19 without such diseases during a low-stress period in which no

exams were

> taken and a high-stress situation associated with an important

exam.

>

> On both occasions, the participants underwent a variety of tests

to their

> measure stress levels, immune system function and allergic

reactions.

>

> The researchers found that levels of immune system cells called

regulatory T

> cells, which control the activity of a number of other types of

immune cell,

> increased significantly in both groups of students in response to

the mental

> stress of exams.

>

> The findings also revealed that, in response to exam stress, blood

> concentrations of a group of inflammation products, called

cytokines,

> changed to a pattern associated with allergic inflammation in the

students

> with asthma and allergies, but remained normal in the healthy

students.

>

> Dr Lekander explained that the two findings may well be linked. He

said:

> " There is much to suggest that the regulatory T cells are

dysfunctional in

> people with allergies. When people become stressed, they increase

in number

> and normally have an anti-inflammatory effect.

>

> " If this system does not work in people with allergies, it could

explain the

> changed cytokine balance that we have observed in them. "

>

> The researchers conclude that their findings support the view that

that

> there are important links between mental stress and the complex

physical

> inflammation reactions characteristic of allergies.

>

> The research is published in the journal Clinical & Experimental

Allergy.

>

> Clinical & Experimental Allergy

> Volume 36 Page 982 - August 2006

> doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02529.x

> Volume 36 Issue 8

>

>

> ORIGINAL PAPER

> Changes in immune regulation in response to examination stress in

atopic and

> healthy individuals

> C. Olgart Höglund*, J. Axén§, C. Kemi*, S. Jernelöv§, J.

Grunewald*, C.

> Müller-Suur*, Y. *§, R. Grönneberg*, A. Eklund*, P. Stierna¶

and M.

> Lekander§#

> Summary

> Background Stress can aggravate the allergic inflammation, but

determinants

> of disturbed immune regulation are largely unknown.

>

> Objective To determine systemic immunological, local inflammatory

and

> functional airway responses to stress in healthy and atopic

individuals.

>

> Methods Forty-one undergraduate students, 22 with allergy of whom

16 had

> asthma, and 19 healthy controls, were studied in a low-stress

period and in

> association with a large exam. Subjects completed questionnaires

on stress

> and health behaviours, underwent lung function tests, bronchial

methacholine

> challenge, measurements of exhaled nitric oxide and urine

cortisol. Blood

> cells were phenotyped, and cytokines from mononuclear blood cells

were

> analysed.

>

> Results Perceived stress and anxiety increased in both groups

during the

> exam period while cortisol increased only in the atopy group.

Cytokine

> production decreased broadly in response to stress in both groups,

which was

> paralleled by an increase in the proportion of regulatory T cells

> (CD4+CD45RO+CD25bright). Interestingly, atopic individuals, but not

> controls, reacted with a decreased T-helper type 1/T-helper type 2

(Th1/Th2)

> ratio and a decrease in natural killer (NK) cell numbers in

response to

> stress. In control subjects only, exhaled nitric oxide decreased

and forced

> expiratory volume in one second increased during stress.

>

> Conclusion Atopic and non-atopic subjects shared some immune

changes in

> response to stress, such as a dramatic decline in cytokines and an

increase

> in the number of regulatory T cells in peripheral blood. However,

other

> stress-induced immune changes were unique to atopic individuals,

such as a

> skewed Th1/Th2 ratio and reduced NK cell numbers, indicating that

some

> pathogenic mechanisms in atopics may be more strongly affected by

stress

> than others.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>