engleski

Interactions of immunological, psychological, hormonal, and nutritional alterations in war-related chronic stress.

Background and purpose: Stress-induced effects on neuroendocrine and immune functions are well established. The nature of relations in these multidirectionally interacting allostatic systems is difficult to evaluate in humans. To assess the complex responses to war-related chronic stress, we used multivariate statistical model analysis. Materials and methods: Twenty-nine detainees released from the concentration camp and 15 controls were included in the study. Psychological status was assessed by COR-NEX2 and Hamilton tests, nutritional status by serum albumin and total protein levels, and endocrine status by serum cortisol, ?-endorphin, prolactin, T3 and T4 levels. Immune status was estimated by flow cytometric enumeration of the lymphocyte subpopulations, NK and phagocytic activities, and serum cytokines (IL-2, TNF, IFN) levels. To assess the relations between psychological, nutritional, endocrine and immune statuses representet by sets of several variables each, multivariate canonical correlation and cluster analysis were aplyed. Results: Although no causal relationship can be inferred from this study, multiple interactions were established between the statuses examined. Psychological and nutritional variables correlated with T lymphocyte activation and non-specific immune functions, while hormonal and psychological statuses, being in correlation, contributed to the relation with immunofunctional variables. By cluster analysis, all variables employed were structured into four clusters, reflecting more or less the same relation among the psychological, endocrine, immune and nutritional statuses. Conclusion: The multivariate model analyses employed confirmed the prevailing influence of chronic stress on hormonal and immunological responses, although in order to arrive at a more reliable interpretation of such complex interactions, some other important variables and larger sample size should be employed.

psychoneuroimmunology; immunophenotyping; immune function; cytokines; canonical correlation; cluster analysis

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