Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
08:52

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice

Published on: February 22, 2019

11.3K

Infant cortisol stress-response is associated with thymic function and vaccine response

M Nazmul Huda1,2,3, Shaikh M Ahmad3, Md Jahangir Alam3

  • 1a Nutrition Department , University of California , Davis , CA , USA.

Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|June 23, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Infants with higher stress responses showed impaired T-cell immunity and lower vaccine responses. These findings highlight early-life stress impacts on infant immune development and suggest sex-based immune differences emerge early.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric immunology
  • Stress physiology
  • Neonatal immune development

Background:

  • Stress is known to impair T-cell mediated immunity.
  • Understanding early-life stress impacts on infant immune function is crucial for long-term health.
  • Neonatal immune system development is complex and influenced by various factors, including stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between pain-induced cortisol responsiveness and T-cell mediated immunity in infants.
  • To examine the relationship between stress responses, thymic function, and vaccine responses in early childhood.
  • To identify potential sex differences in immune responses to stress during infancy.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 306 infants in Bangladesh.
  • Measurement of salivary cortisol levels before and after vaccination (needle stick).
  • Assessment of thymic index (TI) via ultrasonography, T-cell receptor excision circles (TREC), T-cell concentrations, and vaccine responses (BCG, tetanus, hepatitis B, poliovirus).

Main Results:

  • Higher cortisol responsiveness was negatively associated with thymic index in boys and with naïve helper T-cell concentrations in both sexes.
  • Infants with higher cortisol responses exhibited reduced delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test responses to BCG vaccination.
  • Sex differences in immune system development were observable as early as 6 weeks of age.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated cortisol response to pain in infants is linked to alterations in T-cell populations and diminished DTH response to vaccination.
  • These findings suggest that early-life stress can negatively impact T-cell mediated immunity in infants.
  • The study reveals significant sex differences in immune system development beginning in early infancy.

Keywords:
StressT-cellcortisolthymusvaccinevitamin A

More Related Videos

Measurements of Physiological Stress Responses in C. Elegans10:36

Measurements of Physiological Stress Responses in C. Elegans

Published on: May 21, 2020

15.0K
Examining the Role of Nasopharyngeal-associated Lymphoreticular Tissue NALT in Mouse Responses to Vaccines12:21

Examining the Role of Nasopharyngeal-associated Lymphoreticular Tissue NALT in Mouse Responses to Vaccines

Published on: August 1, 2012

27.6K

Related Concept Videos

Responses to Salt Stress02:02

Responses to Salt Stress

Salt stress—which can be triggered by high salt concentrations in a plant’s environment—can significantly affect plant growth and crop production by influencing photosynthesis and the absorption of water and nutrients.
14.6K
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress02:45

Responses to Heat and Cold Stress

Every organism has an optimum temperature range within which healthy growth and physiological functioning can occur. At the ends of this range, there will be a minimum and maximum temperature that interrupt biological processes.
14.9K
Stress Response System01:21

Stress Response System

The stress response system, also known as the fight-or-flight response, is the body's automatic physiological reaction to perceived threats. Hans Selye introduced the concept of General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) to describe the predictable pattern of changes that occur in response to stress. GAS consists of three sequential stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. This model helps explain how chronic stress can contribute to health problems.
Alarm stage
In the alarm stage, the body's...
914
Psychological Responses to Stress01:20

Psychological Responses to Stress

Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
720
Other Stress Responses in Bacteria01:30

Other Stress Responses in Bacteria

Bacteria have global regulatory systems that control several types of stress mechanisms. These include Pho regulon and the heat shock response, which are essential systems for environmental adaptation, such as nutrient limitation and proteotoxic stress. The Pho regulon and the heat shock response exemplify bacterial resilience, enabling rapid adaptation to fluctuating environmental conditions.Pho RegulonBacteria require phosphorus for essential cellular processes, including nucleic acid...
437
Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
51.8K