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Evidence for a Shift in the Th-1 to Th-2 Cytokine Response Associated With Chronic Stress and Aging
- Source :
- The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 56:M477-M482
- Publication Year :
- 2001
- Publisher :
- Oxford University Press (OUP), 2001.
-
Abstract
- 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.
- Subjects :
- Male
Aging
CD4-CD8 Ratio
Sensitivity and Specificity
Flow cytometry
Interferon-gamma
Immune system
Reference Values
Proto-Oncogene Proteins
Humans
Medicine
Dementia
Interferon gamma
Chronic stress
Longitudinal Studies
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Analysis of Variance
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
Interleukin
Flow Cytometry
medicine.disease
Control subjects
Interleukin-10
Cytokine response
Caregivers
Case-Control Studies
Immune System
Chronic Disease
Immunology
Cytokines
Interleukin-2
Regression Analysis
Female
Geriatrics and Gerontology
business
Biomarkers
Stress, Psychological
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 1758535X and 10795006
- Volume :
- 56
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....3aa509624e24ae0b55ffc48bbff293ca
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/56.8.m477