[Immunity and stress]

Changes occurring in stress response in the immune system and their effect upon resistance against infectious diseases, were studied. The main mechanisms of the stress induction involve: enhancement of the corticotropin-releasing factor and/or adrenocorticotropic hormone synthesis under the effect of interleukin-1; induced by an infection synthesis of the adrenocorticotropic hormone by lymphocytes, enhancement of the corticotropin-releasing factor synthesis under the effect of a psycho-emotional tension. The main reasons of decline in the immune-competence in stress, are discussed. Significance of stress-response as one of the mechanisms of the organism physiological response to extreme circumstances, is considered.