[Psychological stress, immune function and disease development. The psychoneuroimmunologic perspective]

Area of Science:

• Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)
• Integrative biology
• Stress physiology

Context:

• Growing evidence links psychological stress to chronic disease development and progression.
• The bidirectional communication between the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems is increasingly recognized for its role in health and disease.
• Allostatic load theory provides a framework for understanding how chronic stress impacts physiological systems.

Purpose:

• To review psychoneuroimmunological research on the impact of psychological stressors on chronic diseases.
• To conceptualize the associations between stress, neuroendocrine-immune pathways, and disease pathogenesis using the allostatic load model.
• To highlight the implications for understanding and treating conditions such as infections, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.

Summary:

• Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) research demonstrates significant links between psychological stress and chronic diseases.
• Disturbances in neuroendocrine-immune system interactions are implicated in disease onset and progression.
• Evidence reviewed covers infections, vaccination response, wound healing, breast cancer, and multiple sclerosis, viewed through the lens of allostatic load.

Impact:

• Findings may offer novel insights into the pathogenetic mechanisms of chronic diseases.
• Understanding neuroendocrine-immune interactions can inform the development of new preventive strategies.
• This research could contribute to innovative therapeutic approaches for stress-related chronic conditions.