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[Stress and the immune system]
1Scuola di Specializzazione in Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Università di Pavia.
A relationship between stress and immunological system was first recognized in animals over 50 years ago. Several stressors, both physical and chemical, have been shown to be capable of affecting the activities of immunologically competent cells, particularly T-cell and natural killer cells (NK). The data presently available show that in humans also psychic stressors, as a bereavement or a divorce, may produce the same effects. There is evidence that such effects are mediated both by corticosteroid system and opioids neuropeptides via specific receptors found on T-cells.
A relationship between stress and immunological system was first recognized in animals over 50 years ago. Several stressors, both physical and chemical, have been shown to be capable of affecting the activities of immunologically competent cells, particularly T-cell and natural killer cells (NK). The data presently available show that in humans also psychic stressors, as a bereavement or a divorce, may produce the same effects. There is evidence that such effects are mediated both by corticosteroid system and opioids neuropeptides via specific receptors found on T-cells.