Influence of stress on the maturity of T-cells

Stress is known to influence the immune function via an effect on the central nervous system. We previously presented data showing that stress alters the population of T-cell subsets in mice. The variations of T-cell subsets in the thymus, peripheral blood, and spleen in mice similarly stressed by immobilization or by unavoidable and opioid-dependent stress were measured by flow cytometry using the monoclonal antibodies anti-L3T4, anti-Lyt 1, anti-Lyt 2 and anti-Thy 1, 2. Immobilization stress was applied for three days and T-cell subsets were measured on the days 1, 2 and 3, as well as on day 7 after release from immobilization. Lyt 2-positive cells in the thymus were the most sensitive to stress, showing significant variations. The proportion of immature T-cells increased in the thymus, blood and spleen of the stressed mice. When diazepam or naloxone were administered 30 min before the initiation of stress, these variations tended to decrease. Thus, the ratio of T-cell subsets varied with the duration of immobilization stress. This appeared to be partly mediated by the opioid system and the central nervous system.