Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Does genotype mask the relationship between psychological factors and immune function?

Alison Smith1, Ute Vollmer-Conna, Andrew Geczy

  • 1School of Psychology, University of Western Sydney, Australia. aj.smith@uws.edu.au

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
|January 25, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Psychological distress impacts cellular immunity development, particularly in individuals with specific human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Genetic factors like HLA DQ2 and DQ5 influence the relationship between distress and immune responses to novel antigens.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Preference-based scoring algorithm to estimate societal utilities based on the patient-reported experience of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (PRECIS) instrument.

Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2026
Same author

Exploring the psychosocial impact of prosthetic rehabilitation in patients with head and neck cancer: A scoping review.

The Journal of prosthetic dentistry·2026
Same author

Ovine forestomach matrix as a novel adjunct to promote healing of low output enterocutaneous fistulae in high-risk surgical patients.

Trauma case reports·2026
Same author

Model-Based Patient Selection and Dosing Strategies for HRAS and PIK3CA Dysregulated HNSCC: A QSP Model for Alpelisib and Tipifarnib Combination.

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics·2026
Same author

Accuracy of glomerular filtration rate estimation based on creatinine and cystatin C for monitoring moderate chronic kidney disease in adults: prospective, longitudinal cohort study.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2026
Same author

End-of-life antibiotic stewardship: perspectives from the ESCMID Study Groups for antimicrobial stewardship and infections in the elderly.

Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·2026

Area of Science:

  • Psychoneuroimmunology
  • Immunogenetics
  • Cellular Immunity

Background:

  • Psychological distress is known to modulate immune function.
  • Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) play a critical role in immune responses.
  • The interplay between genetic predisposition and psychological stress on immunity requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the interaction between human leukocyte antigens (DRB1 and DQB1) and psychological distress.
  • To assess the development of cellular immunity to a novel antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).
  • To determine how genetic factors influence the relationship between distress and immune response.

Main Methods:

  • Participants (n=227) were immunized with KLH.
  • Cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to KLH were measured.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Psychological distress was assessed using the Profile of Mood States.
  • DNA was analyzed for HLA DRB1 and DQB1 antigen typing.

    • Main Results:

    • A significant correlation was found between distress at immunization and DTH response to KLH (r=.24, p=.003).
    • HLA DQ2 showed a weak association with decreased DTH response, while HLA DQ5 was weakly associated with increased response.
    • The correlation between distress and immune function was stronger in HLA DQ2-negative individuals (.34) compared to HLA DQ2-positive individuals (.06).

    Conclusions:

    • Genetic factors, specifically HLA types, modulate the impact of psychological distress on cellular immunity.
    • The distress-immune relationship may be underestimated in psychoneuroimmunology research, especially in genetically susceptible or protected individuals.
    • These findings highlight the complex interplay between genetics, psychological state, and immune system function.