Evidence for a shift in the Th-1 to Th-2 cytokine response associated with chronic stress and aging
R Glaser1, R C MacCallum, B F Laskowski
1Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Ohio State University Medical Center, 333 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210. Glaser.1@osu.edu
Insights
Chronic stress from caregiving may alter immune responses, increasing interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in T lymphocytes, particularly in younger individuals. This suggests a potential shift in cellular immunity with implications for pathogen response.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Psychoneuroimmunology
- Stress Research
Background:
- Chronic stress in dementia caregivers can negatively impact the immune system.
- Previous research indicates dysregulation of cellular immune responses due to caregiving stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate immunological consequences of chronic stress in spousal dementia caregivers.
- To compare T lymphocyte cytokine profiles between caregivers and control subjects.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to quantify CD-4(+) and CD-8(+) T lymphocytes.
- Expression of IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IL-10 was measured in T cell subsets.
- Caregivers were compared to non-caregiver control subjects.
Main Results:
- No significant relationship was found between stress/age and IFN-gamma or IL-2 producing cells.
- Caregivers exhibited a higher percentage of IL-10 producing T cells compared to controls.
- The increase in IL-10(+) cells was more pronounced in younger caregivers, indicating an age-dependent effect.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a shift from Th-1 to Th-2 immune responses in chronic stress associated with caregiving.
- This immune shift may have implications for susceptibility to pathogens.
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) dysregulation is a key immunological marker in chronic stress.
Background:
A number of studies have shown that the chronic stress of caring for persons with dementia can have significant immunological consequences as demonstrated by the down-regulation/dysregulation of the cellular immune response.
Methods:
Utilizing flow cytometry to measure the percentages and absolute numbers of CD-4(+) and CD-8(+) T lymphocytes producing the cytokines indicative of Th-1, Tc1 and Th-2, and Tc2 cells, we compared spousal caregivers and control subjects. The expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the cytoplasm of CD-4(+) and CD-8(+) lymphocytes was assessed.
Results:
Neither stress nor age was significantly related to the percentage or number of IFNgamma(+)/CD-8(+), IL-2(+)/CD-8(+) cells, or IFNgamma(+), IL-2(+), CD-4(+) cells. However, the percentage of IL-10(+) cells was higher in lymphocytes obtained from caregivers than control subjects. In addition, the significant interaction between stress and aging for IL-10(+)/CD-4(+) and IL-10(+)/CD-8(+) cells demonstrated that the difference between caregivers and control subjects was age dependent; the difference between caregivers and control subjects was substantially larger in younger individuals than in older individuals.
Conclusions:
The data are consistent with previous reports on acute stress and suggest that there may also be a shift from a Th-1 to a Th-2 response associated with a chronic stressor such as caregiving. This shift could have implications for an individual's responses to pathogens.
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