Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Stress, ageing and their influence on functional, cellular and molecular aspects of the immune system

  • Published:
AGE Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The immune response is essential for keeping an organism healthy and for defending it from different types of pathogens. It is a complex system that consists of a large number of components performing different functions. The adequate and controlled interaction between these components is necessary for a robust and strong immune response. There are, however, many factors that interfere with the way the immune response functions. Stress and ageing now consistently appear in the literature as factors that act upon the immune system in the way that is often damaging. This review focuses on the role of stress and ageing in altering the robustness of the immune response first separately, and then simultaneously, discussing the effects that emerge from their interplay. The special focus is on the psychological stress and the impact that it has at different levels, from the whole system to the individual molecules, resulting in consequences for physical health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ader R (2003) Conditioned immunomodulation: research needs and directions. Brain Behav Immun 17:S51–S57

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ader R, Cohen N (1975) Behaviorally conditioned immunosuppression. Psychosom Med 37(1):83–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Adler AS, Sinha S, Kawahara TLA, Zhang JY, Segal E, Chang HY (2007) Motif module map reveals enforcement of aging by continual NF-kappa B activity. Genes Dev 21(24):3244–3257. doi:10.1101/gad.1588507

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Adler AS, Kawahara TLA, Segal E, Chang HY (2008) Reversal of aging by NF kappa B blockade. Cell Cycle 7(5):556–559

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Akdis CA, Blesken T, Akdis M, Alkan SS, Heusser CH, Blaser K (1997) Glucocorticoids inhibit human antigen-specific and enhance total IgE and IgG4 production due to differential effects on T and B cells in vitro. Eur J Immunol 27(9):2351–2357. doi:10.1002/eji.1830270933

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arlt W, Hewison M (2004) Hormones and immune function: implications of aging. Aging Cell 3(4):209–216. doi:10.1111/j.1474-9728.2004.00109.x

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arora Duggal N, Upton J, Phillips AC, Sapey E, Lord JM (2013) An age-related numerical and functional deficit in CD19(+) CD24(hi) CD38(hi) B cells is associated with an increase in systemic autoimmunity. Aging Cell 12(5):873–881

    Google Scholar 

  • Atanackovic D, Nowottne U, Freier E, Weber CS, Meyer S, Bartels K, Hildebrandt Y, Cao YR, Kroger N, Brunner-Weinzierl MC, Bokemeyer C, Deter HC (2013) Acute psychological stress increases peripheral blood CD3(+)CD56(+) natural killer T cells in healthy men: possible implications for the development and treatment of allergic and autoimmune disorders. Stress Int J Biol Stress 16(4):421–428. doi:10.3109/10253890.2013.777702

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee A, Benedict WF (1979) Production of sister chromatid exchanges by various cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Cancer Res 39(3):797–799

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barcellos LF, Oksenberg JR, Green AJ, Bucher P, Rimmler JB, Schmidt S, Garcia ME, Lincoln RR, Pericak-Vance MA, Haines JL, Hauser SL, Multiple Sclerosis Genet G (2002) Genetic basis for clinical expression in multiple sclerosis. Brain 125:150–158

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett RC, Steptoe A, Gareis KC (2005) Marital-role quality and stress-related psychobiological indicators. Ann Behav Med 30(1):36–43. doi:10.1207/s15324796abm3001_5

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baron RS, Cutrona CE, Hicklin D, Russell DW, Lubaroff DM (1990) Social support and immune function among spouses of cancer patients. J Pers Soc Psychol 59(2):344–352. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.59.2.344

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barrett EJ (2005) The adrenal gland. In: Boron WF, Boulpaep EL (eds) Medical physiology: a cellular and molecular approach. Elsevier Inc, pp 1049–1065

  • Bartrop RW, Lazarus L, Luckhurst E, Kiloh LG, Penny R (1977) Depressed lymphocyte function after bereavement. Lancet 1(8016):834–839

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer ME, Vedhara K, Perks P, Wilcock GK, Lightman SL, Shanks N (2000) Chronic stress in caregivers of dementia patients is associated with reduced lymphocyte sensitivity to glucocorticoids. J Neuroimmunol 103(1):84–92. doi:10.1016/s0165-5728(99)00228-3

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bierhaus A, Wolf J, Andrassy M, Rohleder N, Humpert PM, Petrov D, Ferstl R, von Eynatten M, Wendt T, Rudofsky G, Joswig M, Morcos M, Schwaninger M, McEwen B, Kirschbaum C, Nawroth PP (2003) A mechanism converting psychosocial stress into mononuclear cell activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100(4):1920–1925. doi:10.1073/pnas.0438019100

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonneau RH, Sheridan JF, Feng N, Glaser R (1991) Stress-induced suppression of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific cytotoxic lymphocyte T and natural-killer cell activity and enhancement of acute pathogenesis following local HSV infection. Brain Behav Immun 5(2):170–192. doi:10.1016/0889-1591(91)90015-3

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bosch JA, Berntson GG, Cacioppo JT, Dhabhar FS, Marucha PT (2003) Acute stress evokes selective mobilization of T cells that differ in chemokine receptor expression: a potential pathway linking immunologic reactivity to cardiovascular disease. Brain Behav Immun 17(4):251–259. doi:10.1016/s0889-1591(03)00054-0

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bosch JA, Ring C, de Geus EJ, Veerman EC, Amerongen AV (2002) Stress and secretory immunity. Int Rev Neurobiol 52:213–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown HF, Difrancesco D, Noble SJ (1979) How does adrenaline accelerate the heart. Nature 280(5719):235–236. doi:10.1038/280235a0

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burns VE, Drayson M, Ring C, Carroll D (2002) Perceived stress and psychological well-being are associated with antibody status after meningitis C conjugate vaccination. Psychosom Med 64(6):963–970. doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000039836.67401.28

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burns VE, Carroll D, Drayson M, Whitham M, Ring C (2003) Life events, perceived stress and antibody response to influenza vaccination in young, healthy adults. J Psychosom Res 55(6):569–572. doi:10.1016/s0022-3999(03)00073-4

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butcher SK, Chahal H, Lord JM (2000) Ageing and the neutrophil: no appetite for killing? Immunology 100(4):411–416. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2567.2000.00079.x

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butcher SK, Chahal H, Nayak L, Sinclair A, Henriquez NV, Sapey E, O’Mahony D, Lord JM (2001) Senescence in innate immune responses: reduced neutrophil phagocytic capacity and CD16 expression in elderly humans. J Leukoc Biol 70(6):881–886

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butcher SK, Killampalli V, Lascelles D, Wang K, Alpar EK, Lord JM (2005) Raised cortisol : DHEAS ratios in the elderly after injury: potential impact upon neutrophil function and immunity. Aging Cell 4(6):319–324. doi:10.1111/j.1474-9726.2005.00178.x

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cannon WB (1929) Bodily changes in pain, hunger, fear, and rage. D. Appleton & Co., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Castle SC (2000) Clinical relevance of age-related immune dysfunction. Clin Infect Dis 31(2):578–585. doi:10.1086/313947

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charmandari E, Tsigos C, Chrousos G (2005) Endocrinology of the stress response. Annu Rev Physiol 67:259–284. doi:10.1146/annurev.physiol.67.040403.120816

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cherif H, Tarry JL, Ozanne SE, Hales CN (2003) Ageing and telomeres: a study into organ- and gender-specific telomere shortening. Nucleic Acids Res 31(5):1576–1583. doi:10.1093/nar/gkg208

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen S, Line S, Manuck SB, Rabin BS, Heise ER, Kaplan JR (1997) Chronic social stress, social status, and susceptibility to upper respiratory infections in nonhuman primates. Psychosom Med 59(3):213–221

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen L, Marshall GD, Cheng L, Agarwal SK, Wei QY (2000) DNA repair capacity in healthy medical students during and after exam stress. J Behav Med 23(6):531–544. doi:10.1023/a:1005503502992

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coles DR, Duff F, Shepherd WHT, Whelan RF (1956) Effect on respiration of infusions of adrenaline and noradrenaline into the carotid and vertebral arteries in man. Br J Pharmacol Chemother 11(3):346–350

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cunnick JE, Lysle DT, Armfield A, Rabin BS (1988) Shock-induced modulation of lymphocyte responsiveness and natural killer cell activity: differential mechanisms of induction. Brain Behav Immun 2:102–113

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cutler RG (1982) Longevity is determined by specific genes: testing the hypothesis. In: Adelman R, Roth G (eds) Testing the theories of aging. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 25–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutler RG (1985) Dysdifferentiation and aging. In: Sohal RS, Birnbaum L, Cutler RG (eds) Molecular biology of aging: gene stability and gene expression. Raven Press, New York, pp 307–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahse R, Fiedler W, Ernst G (1997) Telomeres and telomerase: biological and clinical importance. Clin Chem 43(5):708–714

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dallman MF, Pecoraro N, Akana SF, la Fleur SE, Gomez F, Houshyar H, Bell ME, Bhatnagar S, Laugero KD, Manalo S (2003) Chronic stress and obesity: a new view of “comfort food”. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100(20):11696–11701. doi:10.1073/pnas.1934666100

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Damjanovic AK, Yang YH, Glaser R, Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Nguyen H, Laskowski B, Zou YX, Beversdorf DQ, Weng NP (2007) Accelerated telomere erosion is associated with a declining immune function of caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease patients. J Immunol 179(6):4249–4254

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Boer J, Andressoo JO, de Wit J, Huijmans J, Beems RB, van Steeg H, Weeda G, van der Horst GTJ, van Leeuwen W, Themmen APN, Meradji M, Hoeijmakers JHJ (2002) Premature aging in mice deficient in DNA repair and transcription. Science 296(5571):1276–1279. doi:10.1126/science.1070174

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Bosscher K, Vanden Berghe W, Haegeman G (2003) The interplay between the glucocorticoid receptor and nuclear factor-kappa B or activator protein-1: molecular mechanisms for gene repression. Endocr Rev 24(4):488–522. doi:10.1210/er.2002-0006

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Kloet ER, Vreugdenhil E, Oitzl MS, Joels M (1998) Brain corticosteroid receptor balance in health and disease. Endocr Rev 19(3):269–301. doi:10.1210/er.19.3.269

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DeKruyff R, Fang Y, Umetsu DT (1998) Corticosteroids enhance the capacity of macrophages to induce Th2 cytokine synthesis in CD4(+) lymphocytes by inhibiting IL-12 production. J Immunol 160(5):2231–2237

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DeRijk R, Michelson D, Karp B, Petrides J, Galliven E, Deuster P, Paciotti G, Gold PW, Sternberg EM (1997) Exercise and circadian rhythm-induced variations in plasma cortisol differentially regulate interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) production in humans: high sensitivity of TNF alpha and resistance of IL-6. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 82(7):2182–2191. doi:10.1210/jc.82.7.2182

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhabhar FS (2009) Enhancing versus suppressive effects of stress on immune function: implications for immunoprotection and immunopathology. Neuroimmunomodulation 16(5):300–317. doi:10.1159/000216188

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhabhar FS, McEwen BS (1997) Acute stress enhances while chronic stress suppresses cell-mediated immunity in vivo: a potential role for leukocyte trafficking. Brain Behav Immun 11(4):286–306. doi:10.1006/brbi.1997.0508

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhabhar FS, Viswanathan K (2005) Short-term stress experienced at time of immunization induces a long-lasting increase in immunologic memory. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 289(3):R738–R744. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00145.2005

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dimsdale JE, Mills P, Patterson T, Ziegler M, Dillon E (1994) Effects of chronic stress on beta adrenergic receptors in the homeless. Psychosom Med 56(4):290–295

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dobbs CM, Vasquez M, Glaser R, Sheridan JF (1993) Mechanisms of stress-induced modulation of viral pathogenesis and immunity. J Neuroimmunol 48(2):151–160. doi:10.1016/0165-5728(93)90187-4

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dobbs CM, Feng NG, Beck FM, Sheridan JF (1996) Neuroendocrine regulation of cytokine production during experimental influenza viral infection—effects of restraint stress-induced elevation in endogenous corticosterone. J Immunol 157(5):1870–1877

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dominguez-Gerpe, Rey-Mendez M (2001) Alterations induced by chronic stress in lymphocyte subsets of blood and primary and secondary immune organs of mice. BMC Immunol 2(7)

  • Dowd JB, Aiello AE, Alley DE (2009) Socioeconomic disparities in the seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in the US population: NHANES III. Epidemiol Infect 137(1):58–65. doi:10.1017/s0950268808000551

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drummond PD, HewsonBower B (1997) Increased psychosocial stress and decreased mucosal immunity in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. J Psychosom Res 43(3):271–278. doi:10.1016/s0022-3999(97)00002-0

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elenkov IJ, Chrousos GP (2002) Stress hormones, proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines, and autoimmunity. In: Cutolo M, Bijlsma JWJ, Lahita RG, Masi AT, Straub RH, Bradlow HL (eds) Neuroendocrine immune basis of the rheumatic diseases II, proceedings, vol 966. Ann N Y Acad Sci 290–303

  • Elmore S (2007) Apoptosis: a review of programmed cell death. Toxicol Pathol 35(4):495–516. doi:10.1080/01926230701320337

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epel ES, Blackburn EH, Lin J, Dhabhar FS, Adler NE, Morrow JD, Cawthon RM (2004) Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101(49):17312–17315. doi:10.1073/pnas.0407162101

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ershler WB, Keller ET (2000) Age-associated increased interleukin-6 gene expression, late-life diseases, and frailty. Annu Rev Med 51:245–270. doi:10.1146/annurev.med.51.1.245

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Esterling BA, Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Bodnar JC, Glaser R (1994) Chronic stress, social support, and persistent alterations in the natural killer cell response to cytokines in older adults. Health Psychol 13(4):291–298. doi:10.1037//0278-6133.13.4.291

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fischman HK, Kelly DD (1987) Sister chromatid exchanges induced by behavioral stress. Ann N Y Acad Sci 496:426–435. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1987.tb35798.x

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Forlenza MJ, Latimer JJ, Baum A (2000) The effects of stress on DNA repair capacity. Psychol Health 15(6):881–891. doi:10.1080/08870440008405589

    Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi C, Valensin S, Fagnoni F, Barbi C, Bonafe M (1999) Biomarkers of immunosenescence within an evolutionary perspective: the challenge of heterogeneity and the role of antigenic load. Exp Gerontol 34(8):911–921. doi:10.1016/s0531-5565(99)00068-6

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi C, Capri M, Monti D, Giunta S, Olivieri F, Sevini F, Panouraia MP, Invidia L, Celani L, Scurti M, Cevenini E, Castellani GC, Salvioli S (2007) Inflammaging and anti-inflammaging: a systemic perspective on aging and longevity emerged from studies in humans. Mech Ageing Dev 128(1):92–105. doi:10.1016/j.mad.2006.11.016

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Franchimont D (2004) Overview of the actions of glucocorticoids on the immune response—a good model to characterize new pathways of immunosuppression for new treatment strategies. In: Kino T, Charmandari E, Chrousos GP (eds) Glucocorticoid action: basic and clinical implications, vol 1024. Ann N Y Acad Sci pp 124–137. doi:10.1196/annals.1321.009

  • Franchimont D, Galon J, Gadina M, Visconti R, Zhou YJ, Aringer M, Frucht DM, Chrousos GP, O’Shea JJ (2000) Inhibition of Th1 immune response by glucocorticoids, dexamethasone selectively inhibits IL-12-induced Stat4 phosphorylation in T lymphocytes. J Immunol 164(4):1768–1774

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freitas AA, de Magalhaes JP (2011) A review and appraisal of the DNA damage theory of ageing. Mutat Res Rev Mutat Res 728(1–2):12–22. doi:10.1016/j.mrrev.2011.05.001

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher S, Phillips AC, Drayson MT, Carroll D (2009a) Caregiving for children with developmental disabilities is associated with a poor antibody response to influenza vaccination. Psychosom Med 71(3):341–344. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e31819d1910

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher S, Phillips AC, Drayson MT, Carroll D (2009b) Parental caregivers of children with developmental disabilities mount a poor antibody response to pneumococcal vaccination. Brain Behav Immun 23(3):338–346. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2008.05.006

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia J, Kimeldorf DJ, Koelling RA (1955) Conditioned aversion to saccharin resulting from exposure to gamma radiation. Science 122(3160):157–158

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmore TD (2006) Introduction to NF-kappa B: players, pathways, perspectives. Oncogene 25(51):6680–6684. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1209954

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser R, Kiecolt-Glaser JK (1997) Chronic stress modulates the virus-specific immune response to latent herpes simplex virus type 1. Ann Behav Med 19(2):78–82. doi:10.1007/bf02883323

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser R, Thorn BE, Tarr KL, Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Dambrosio SM (1985) Effects of stress on methyltransferase synthesis—an important DNA repair enzyme. Health Psychol 4(5):403–412. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.4.5.403

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser R, Rice J, Stout JC, Speicher CE, Kiecolt-Glaser JK (1986) Stress depresses interferon production by leukocytes concomitant with a decrease in natural killer cell activity. Behav Neurosci 100(5):675–678. doi:10.1037/0735-7044.100.5.675

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser R, Kiecolt-Glaser PK, Marucha PT, MacCallum RC, Laskowski BF, Malarkey WB (1999) Stress-related changes in proinflammatory cytokine production in wounds. Arch Gen Psychiatry 56(5):450–456. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.56.5.450

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser R, Sheridan J, Malarkey WB, MacCallum RC, Kiecolt-Glaser JK (2000) Chronic stress modulates the immune response to a pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine. Psychosom Med 62(6):804–807

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser R, MacCallum RC, Laskowski BF, Malarkey WB, Sheridan JF, Kiecolt-Glaser JK (2001) Evidence for a shift in the Th-1 to Th-2 cytokine response associated with chronic stress and aging (vol 56, pg 477, 2001). J Gerontol Ser A Biol Sci Med Sci 56(11):M673–M673

    Google Scholar 

  • Gouin JP, Hantsoo L, Kiecolt-Glaser JK (2008) Immune dysregulation and chronic stress among older adults: a review. Neuroimmunomodulation 15(4–6):251–259. doi:10.1159/000156468

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graham JE, Christian LM, Kiecolt-Glaser JK (2006) Stress, age, and immune function: toward a lifespan approach. J Behav Med 29(4):389–400. doi:10.1007/s10865-006-9057-4

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin JE, Ojeda SR (2004) Textbook of endocrine physiology. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossberg GT (2002) The ABC of Alzheimer’s disease: behavioral symptoms and their treatment. Int Psychogeriatr 14:27–49. doi:10.1017/s1041610203008652

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gruver AL, Sempowski GD (2008) Cytokines, leptin, and stress-induced thymic atrophy. J Leukoc Biol 84(4):915–923. doi:10.1189/jlb.0108025

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hara MR, Kovacs JJ, Whalen EJ, Rajagopal S, Strachan RT, Grant W, Towers AJ, Williams B, Lam CM, Xiao KH, Shenoy SK, Gregory SG, Ahn S, Duckett DR, Lefkowitz RJ (2011) A stress response pathway regulates DNA damage through beta(2)-adrenoreceptors and beta-arrestin-1. Nature 477(7364):349–353. doi:10.1038/nature10368

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hara MR, Sachs BD, Caron MG, Lefkowitz RJ (2013) Pharmacological blockade of a beta(2)AR-beta-arrestin-1 signaling cascade prevents the accumulation of DNA damage in a behavioral stress model. Cell Cycle 12(2):219–224. doi:10.4161/cc.23368

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hazeldine J, Lord JM (2013) The impact of ageing on natural killer cell function and potential consequences for health in older adults. Ageing Res Rev 12(4):1069–1078. doi:10.1016/j.arr.2013.04.003

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hazeldine J, Hampson P, Lord JM (2012) Reduced release and binding of perforin at the immunological synapse underlies the age-related decline in natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Aging Cell 1–9

  • Heinrich PC, Castell JV, Andus T (1990) Interleukin 6 and the acute phase response. Biochem J 265(3):621–636

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hermann G, Beck FM, Sheridan JF (1995) Stress-induced glucocorticoid response modulates mononuclear cell trafficking during an experimental influenza viral infection. J Neuroimmunol 56(2):179–186. doi:10.1016/0165-5728(94)00145-e

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hu XY, Li WP, Meng C, Ivashkiv LB (2003) Inhibition of IFN-gamma signaling by glucocorticoids. J Immunol 170(9):4833–4839

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain D (2010) Stress, immunity, and health: research findings and implications. Int J Psychosoc Rehabil 15(1):94–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Irwin M, Brown M, Patterson T, Hauger R, Mascovich A, Grant I (1991) Neuropeptide Y and natural killer cell activity—findings in depression and Alzheimer caregiver stress. FASEB J 5(15):3100–3107

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang H, Ju Z, Rudolph KL (2007) Telomere shortening and ageing. Z Gerontol Geriatr 40(5):314–324. doi:10.1007/s00391-007-0480-0

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kamezaki Y, Katsuura S, Kuwano Y, Tanahashi T, Rokutan K (2012) Circulating cytokine signatures in healthy medical students exposed to academic examination stress. Psychophysiology 49(7):991–997. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2012.01371.x

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kang DH, Fox C (2001) Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses to academic stress. Res Nurs Health 24(4):245–257. doi:10.1002/nur.1027

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kang DH, Coe CL, Karaszewski J, McCarthy DO (1998) Relationship of social support to stress responses and immune function in healthy and asthmatic adolescents. Res Nurs Health 21(2):117–128. doi:10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(199804)21:2<117::aid-nur3>3.0.co;2-m

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kapahi P, Boulton ME, Kirkwood TBL (1999) Positive correlation between mammalian life span and cellular resistance to stress. Free Radic Biol Med 26(5–6):495–500. doi:10.1016/s0891-5849(98)00323-2

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaszubowska L (2008) Telomere shortening and ageing of the immune system. J Physiol Pharmacol 59:169–186

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khanfer RPAC, Carroll D, Lord JM (2010) Altered human neutrophil function in response to acute psychological stress. Psychosom Med 72(7):636–640

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khanfer R, Lord JM, Phillips AC (2011) Neutrophil function and cortisol:DHEAS ratio in bereaved older adults. Brain Behav Immun 25(6):1182–1186. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2011.03.008

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khanfer R, Carroll D, Lord JM, Phillips AC (2012) Reduced neutrophil superoxide production among healthy older adults in response to acute psychological stress. Int J Psychophysiol 86(3):238–244. doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2012.09.013

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Garner W, Speicher C, Penn GM, Holliday J, Glaser R (1984a) Psychosocial modifiers of immunocompetence in medical students. Psychosom Med 46(1):7–14

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Ricker D, George J, Messick G, Speicher CE, Garner W, Glaser R (1984b) Urinary cortisol levels, cellular immunocompetency, and loneliness in psychiatric inpatients. Psychosom Med 46(1):15–23

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Stephens RE, Lipetz PD, Speicher CE, Glaser R (1985) Distress and DNA repair in human lymphocytes. J Behav Med 8(4):311–320. doi:10.1007/bf00848366

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Fisher LD, Ogrocki P, Stout JC, Speicher CE, Glaser R (1987) Marital quality, marital disruption, and immune function. Psychosom Med 49(1):13–34

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Kennedy S, Malkoff S, Fisher L, Speicher CE, Glaser R (1988) Marital discord and immunity in males. Psychosom Med 50(3):213–229

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Dura JR, Speicher CE, Trask OJ, Glaser R (1991a) Spousal caregivers of dementia victims: longitudinal changes in immunity and health. Psychosom Med 53(4):345–362

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Speicher CE, Glaser R, Dura JR, Trask OJ (1991b) Spousal caregivers of dementia victims—longitudinal changes in immunity and health. Psychosom Med 53(4):345–362

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Marucha PT, Malarkey WB, Mercado AM, Glaser R (1995) Slowing of wound healing by psychological stress. Lancet 346(8984):1194–1196

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Glaser R, Gravenstein S, Malarkey WB, Sheridan J (1996) Chronic stress alters the immune response to influenza virus vaccine in older adults. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 93(7):3043–3047. doi:10.1073/pnas.93.7.3043

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Glaser R, Cacioppo JT, MacCallum RC, Snydersmith M, Kim C, Malarkey WB (1997) Marital conflict in older adults: endocrinological and immunological correlates. Psychosom Med 59(4):339–349

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kioukia-Fougia N, Antoniou K, Bekris S, Liapi C, Christofidis I, Papadopoulou-Daifoti Z (2002) The effects of stress exposure on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, thymus, thyroid hormones and glucose levels. Prog Neuro-Psychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 26(5):823–830. doi:10.1016/s0278-5846(01)00297-4

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood TBL (1977) Evolution of ageing. Nature 270(5635):301–304

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kono K, Takahashi A, Iizuka H, Fujii H, Sekikawa T, Matsumoto Y (2001) Effect of oesophagectomy on monocyte-induced apoptosis of peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Br J Surg 88(8):1110–1116. doi:10.1046/j.0007-1323.2001.01833.x

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni SK (1980) Heat and other physiological stress-induced analgesia: catecholamine mediated and naloxone reversible response. Life Sci 27(3):185–188. doi:10.1016/0024-3205(80)90136-8

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee WK, Rarnanathan M, Spannhake EW, Lane AP (2007) The cigarette smoke component acrolein inhibits expression of the innate immune components, IL-8 and human beta-defensin 2 by sinonasal epithelial cells. Am J Rhinol 21(6):658–663. doi:10.2500/ajr.2007.21.3094

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lim HY, Muller N, Herold MJ, van den Brandt J, Reichardt HM (2007) Glucocorticoids exert opposing effects on macrophage function dependent on their concentration. Immunology 122(1):47–53. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2567.2007.02611.x

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Linn BS, Linn MW, Klimas NG (1988) Effects of psychophysical stress on surgical outcome. Psychosom Med 50(3):230–244

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd AR, Oppenheim JJ (1992) Polys lament: the neglected role of the polymorphonuclear neutrophil in the afferent limb of the immune response. Immunol Today 13(5):169–172. doi:10.1016/0167-5699(92)90121-m

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Longo VD, Kennedy BK (2006) Sirtuins in aging and age-related disease. Cell 126(2):257–268. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2006.07.002

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maes M, Song C, Lin AH, De Jongh R, Van Gastel A, Kenis G, Bosmans E, De Meester I, Benoy I, Neels H, Demedts P, Janca A, Scharpe S, Smith RS (1998) The effects of psychological stress on humans: increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a Th1-like response in stress-induced anxiety. Cytokine 10(4):313–318. doi:10.1006/cyto.1997.0290

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maier SF, Watkins LR (1998) Cytokines for psychologists: implications of bidirectional immune-to-brain communication for understanding behavior, mood, and cognition. Psychol Rev 105(1):83–107. doi:10.1037/0033-295x.105.1.83

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall GD, Agarwal SK, Lloyd C, Cohen L, Henninger EM, Morris GJ (1998) Cytokine dysregulation associated with exam stress in healthy medical students. Brain Behav Immun 12(4):297–307. doi:10.1006/brbi.1998.0537

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marucha PT, Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Favagehi M (1998) Mucosal wound healing is impaired by examination stress. Psychosom Med 60(3):362–365

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McEwen BS (1998) Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. N Engl J Med 338(3):171–179

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mikhelson VM, Gamaley IA (2008) Telomere shortening is the sole mechanism of aging. Open Longev Sci 2:23–28

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller RA (1996) The aging immune system: primer and prospectus. Science 273(5271):70–74. doi:10.1126/science.273.5271.70

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller GE, Cohen S, Ritchey AK (2002) Chronic psychological stress and the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines: a glucocorticoid-resistance model. Health Psychol 21(6):531–541. doi:10.1037//0278-6133.21.6.531

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moroda T, Kawachi Y, Iiai T, Tsukahara A, Suzuki S, Tada T, Watanabe H, Hatakeyama K, Abo T (1997) Self-reactive forbidden clones are confined to pathways of intermediate T-cell receptor cell differentiation even under immunosuppressive conditions. Immunology 91(1):88–94. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2567.1997.00222.x

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moynihan JA (2003) Mechanisms of stress-induced modulation of immunity. Brain Behav Immun 17:S11–S16

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mozo L, Suarez A, Gutierrez C (2004) Glucocorticoids up-regulate constitutive interleukin-10 production by human monocytes. Clin Exp Allergy 34(3):406–412. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2004.01824.x

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Munck A, Guyre PM, Holbrook NJ (1984) Physiological functions of glucocorticoids in stress and their relation to pharmacological actions. Endocr Rev 5(1):25–44

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen KH, Lee JH, Nyomba BLG (2012) Ethanol causes endoplasmic reticulum stress and impairment of insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. Alcohol 46(1):89–99. doi:10.1016/j.alcohol.2011.04.001

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nowak M (1991) The evolution of viruses—competition between horizontal and vertical transmission of mobile genes. J Theor Biol 150(3):339–347. doi:10.1016/s0022-5193(05)80433-3

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oka M, Hirazawa K, Yamamoto K, Iizuka N, Hazama S, Suzuki T, Kobayashi N (1996) Induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis on circulating lymphocytes by surgical stress. Ann Surg 223:434–440

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orentreich N, Brind JL, Rizer RL, Vogelman JH (1984) Age changes and sex differences in serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations throughout adulthood. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 59(3):551–555

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orgel LE (1963) The maintenance of the accuracy of protein synthesis and its relevance to ageing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 49(4):517–521

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ottaviani E, Franceschi C (1997) The invertebrate phagocytic immunocyte: clues to a common evolution of immune and neuroendocrine systems (vol 18, pg 169, 1997). Immunol Today 18(5):215–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Painter RC, Roseboom TJ, de Rooij SR (2012) Long-term effects of prenatal stress and glucocorticoid exposure. Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today Rev 96(4):315–324. doi:10.1002/bdrc.21021

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panerai AE, Sacerdote P, Bianchi M, Manfredi B (1997) Intermittent but not continuous inescapable footshock stress and intracerebroventricular interleukin-1 similarly affect immune responses and immunocyte b-endorphin concentrations in the rat. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 17:115–116

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pariante CM, Carpiniello B, Orru MG, Sitzia R, Piras A, Farci AMG, DelGiacco GS, Piludu G, Miller AH (1997) Chronic caregiving stress alters peripheral blood immune parameters: the role of age and severity of stress. Psychother Psychosom 66(4):199–207

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Partridge L, Barton NH (1993) Optimality, mutation and the evolution of aging. Nature 362(6418):305–311. doi:10.1038/362305a0

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Partridge L, Gems D (2002) Mechanisms of ageing: public or private? Nat Rev Genet 3(3):165–175. doi:10.1038/nrg753

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pawelec G, Akbar A, Caruso C, Solana R, Grubeck-Loebenstein B, Wikby A (2005) Human immunosenescence: is it infectious? Immunol Rev 205:257–268. doi:10.1111/j.0105-2896.2005.00271.x

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips AC, Burns VE, Carroll D, Ring C, Drayson M (2005) The association between life events, social support, and antibody status following thymus-dependent and thymus-independent vaccinations in healthy young adults. Brain Behav Immun 19(4):325–333. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2004.10.004

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips AC, Carroll D, Bums VE, Ring C, Macleod J, Drayson M (2006) Bereavement and marriage are associated with antibody response to influenza vaccination in the elderly. Brain Behav Immun 20(3):279–289. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2005.08.003

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips AC, Burns VE, Lord JM (2007) Stress and exercise: getting the balance right for aging immunity. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 35(1):35–39. doi:10.1097/jes.0b013e31802d7008

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips AC, Roseboom TJ, Carroll D, de Rooij SR (2012) Cardiovascular and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress and adiposity: cross-sectional and prospective associations in the Dutch famine birth cohort study. Psychosom Med 74(7):699–710. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e31825e3b91

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart M, Sorensen S (2003) Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: a meta-analysis. Psychol Aging 18(2):250–267. doi:10.1037/0882-7974.18.2.250

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Potkin SG (2002) The ABC of Alzheimer’s disease: ADL and improving day-to-day functioning of patients. Int Psychogeriatr 14:7–26. doi:10.1017/s1041610203008640

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pressman SD, Cohen S, Miller GE, Barkin A, Rabin BS, Treanor JJ (2005) Loneliness, social network size, and immune response to influenza vaccination in college freshman (vol 24, pg 297, 2005). Health Psychol 24(4):348–348. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.24.4.348

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez F, Fowell DJ, Puklavec M, Simmonds S, Mason D (1996) Glucocorticoids promote a Th2 cytokine response by CD4(+) T cells in vitro. J Immunol 156(7):2406–2412

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen LE (1991) Gene products of cytomegalovirus and their immunologic significance. In: Ho M (ed) Cytomegalovirus: biology and infection, 2nd edn. Plenum Medical Book Company, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Renshaw M, Rockwell J, Engleman C, Gewirtz A, Katz J, Sambhara S (2002) Cutting edge: impaired toll-like receptor expression and function in aging. J Immunol 169(9):4697–4701

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rink L, Cakman I, Kirchner H (1998) Altered cytokine production in the elderly. Mech Ageing Dev 102(2–3):199–209. doi:10.1016/s0047-6374(97)00153-x

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutledge T, Reis SE, Olson M, Owens J, Kelsey SF, Pepine CJ, Mankad S, Rogers WJ, Merz CNB, Sopko G, Cornell CE, Sharaf B, Matthews KA (2004) Social networks are associated with lower mortality rates among women with suspected coronary disease: the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored Women’s Ischemia Syndrome evaluation study. Psychosom Med 66(6):882–888. doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000145819.94041.52

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sapolsky RM (1998) Why zebras don’t get ulcers: an updated guide to stress, stress-related disease, and coping. Freeman, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sapolsky RM (1999) Glucocorticoids, stress, and their adverse neurological effects: relevance to aging. Exp Gerontol 34(6):721–732. doi:10.1016/s0531-5565(99)00047-9

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sapolsky RM (2007) Robert Sapolsky discusses physiological effects of stress. Stanford News

  • Sapolsky RM, Krey LC, McEwen BS (1986) The neuroendocrinology of stress and aging—the glucocorticoid cascade hypothesis. Endocr Rev 7(3):284–301

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sapolsky RM, Romero LM, Munck AU (2000) How do glucocorticoids influence stress responses? Integrating permissive, suppressive, stimulatory, and preparative actions. Endocr Rev 21(1):55–89. doi:10.1210/er.21.1.55

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scheller J, Chalaris A, Schmidt-Arras D, Rose-John S (2011) The pro- and anti-inflammatory properties of the cytokine interleukin-6. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 1813(5):878–888. doi:10.1016/j.bbamcr.2011.01.034

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sedova L, Berube J, Gaudet D, Dumont M, Tremblay J, Hamet P, Pausova Z (2004) Diet-induced obesity delays cardiovascular recovery from stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Obes Res 12(12):1951–1958. doi:10.1038/oby.2004.245

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Segerstrom SC, Miller GE (2004) Psychological stress and the human immune system: a meta-analytic study of 30 years of inquiry. Psychol Bull 130(4):601–630. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.4.601

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Selye H (1936) Thymus and adrenals in the response of the organism to injuries and intoxications. Br J Exp Pathol 17(3):234–248

    CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Selye H (1956) The stress of life. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sendo F, Kato T, Yazawa H (1997) Modulation of neutrophil apoptosis by psychological stress and glucocorticoid. Int J Immunopharmacol 19(9–10):511–516. doi:10.1016/s0192-0561(97)00050-7

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharan SK, Morimatsu M, Albrecht U, Lim DS, Regel E, Dinh C, Sands A, Eichele G, Hasty P, Bradley A (1997) Embryonic lethality and radiation hypersensitivity mediated by Rad51 in mice lacking Brca2. Nature 386(6627):804–810. doi:10.1038/386804a0

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw TJ, Martin P (2009) Wound repair at a glance. J Cell Sci 122(18):3209–3213. doi:10.1242/jcs.031187

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan JF, Dobbs C, Jung JH, Chu XH, Konstantinos A, Padgett D, Glaser R (1998) Stress-induced neuroendocrine modulation of viral pathogenesis and immunity. In: McCann SM, Lipton JM, Sternberg EM, Chrousos GP, Gold PW, Smith CC (eds) Neuroimmunomodulation: molecular aspects, integrative systems, and clinical advances, vol 840. Ann N Y Acad Sci pp 803–808. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb09618.x

  • Shi YF, Devadas S, Greeneltch KM, Yin DL, Mufson RA, Zhou JN (2003) Stressed to death: implication of lymphocyte apoptosis for psychoneuroimmunology. Brain Behav Immun 17:S18–S26

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siergist CA (2008) Vaccine immunology. In: Orenstein W, Offit P, Plotkin S (eds) Vaccines. Saunders, Elsevier, pp 17–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva SM, Madeira MD (2012) Effects of chronic alcohol consumption and withdrawal on the response of the male and female hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to acute immune stress. Brain Res 1444:27–37. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2012.01.013

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh J, Singh AK (1979) Age-related changes in human thymus. Clin Exp Immunol 37(3):507–511

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sorrells SF, Sapolsky RM (2007) An inflammatory review of glucocorticoid actions in the CNS. Brain Behav Immun 21(3):259–272. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2006.11.006

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steer JH, Kroeger KM, Abraham LJ, Joyce DA (2000) Glucocorticoids suppress tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression by human monocytic THP-1 cells by suppressing transactivation through adjacent NF-kappa B and c-Jun-activating transcription factor-2 binding sites in the promoter. J Biol Chem 275(24):18432–18440. doi:10.1074/jbc.M906304199

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thaker PH, Han LY, Kamat AA, Arevalo JM, Takahashi R, Lu CH, Jennings NB, Armaiz-Pena G, Bankson JA, Ravoori M, Merritt WM, Lin YG, Mangala LS, Kim TJ, Coleman RL, Landen CN, Li Y, Felix E, Sanguino AM, Newman RA, Lloyd M, Gershenson DM, Kundra V, Lopez-Berestein G, Lutgendorf SK, Cole SW, Sood AK (2006) Chronic stress promotes tumor growth and angiogenesis in a mouse model of ovarian carcinoma. Nat Med 12(8):939–944. doi:10.1038/nm1447

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson WW, Shay DK, Weintraub E, Brammer L, Cox N, Anderson LJ, Fukuda K (2003) Mortality associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the United States. JAMA J Am Med Assoc 289(2):179–186. doi:10.1001/jama.289.2.179

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson KJ, Swan RZ, Walling TL, Iannitti DA, McKillop IH, Sindram D (2013) Obesity, but not ethanol, promotes tumor incidence and progression in a mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo. Surg Endosc Other Interv Tech 27(8):2782–2791. doi:10.1007/s00464-013-2808-8

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomlinson JW, Walker EA, Bujalska IJ, Draper N, Lavery GG, Cooper MS, Hewison M, Stewart PM (2004) 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1: a tissue-specific regulator of glucocorticoid response. Endocr Rev 25(5):831–866. doi:10.1210/er.2003-0031

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trentani A, Kuipers SD, Ter Horst GJ, Den Boer JA (2002) Selective chronic stress-induced in vivo ERK1/2 hyperphosphorylation in medial prefrontocortical dendrites: implications for stress-related cortical pathology? Eur J Neurosci 15(10):1681–1691. doi:10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.02000.x

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vedhara K, Cox NKM, Wilcock GK, Perks P, Hunt M, Anderson S, Lightman SL, Shanks NM (1999) Chronic stress in elderly carers of dementia patients and antibody response to influenza vaccination. Lancet 353(9153):627–631. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(98)06098-x

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vedhara K, McDermott MP, Evans TG, Treanor JJ, Plummer S, Tallon D, Cruttenden KA, Schifitto G (2002) Chronic stress in nonelderly caregivers—psychological, endocrine and immune implications. J Psychosom Res 53(6):1153–1161. doi:10.1016/s0022-3999(02)00343-4

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Viner R (1999) Putting stress in life: Hans Selye and the making of stress theory. Soc Stud Sci 29(3):391–410. doi:10.1177/030631299029003003

    Google Scholar 

  • Viswanathan K, Dhabhar FS (2005) Stress-induced enhancement of leukocyte trafficking into sites of surgery or immune activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102(16):5808–5813. doi:10.1073/pnas.0501650102

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • von Kanel R, Dimsdale JE, Mills PJ, Ancoli-Israel S, Patterson TL, Mausbach BT, Grant I (2006) Effect of Alzheimer caregiving stress and age on frailty markers interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and D-dimer. J Gerontol Ser A Biol Sci Med Sci 61(9):963–969

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei QY, Lee JE, Gershenwald JE, Ross MI, Mansfield PF, Strom SS, Wang LE, Guo ZZ, Qiao YW, Amos CI, Spitz MR, Duvic M (2003) Repair of UV light-induced DNA damage and risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma. J Natl Cancer Inst 95(4):308–315

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weinstock M (2008) The long-term behavioural consequences of prenatal stress. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 32(6):1073–1086. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.03.002

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams GC (1957) Pleiotropy, natural selection, and the evolution of senescence. Evolution 11(4):398–411. doi:10.2307/2406060

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu CY, Fargeas C, Nakajima T, Delespesse G (1991) Glucocorticoids suppress the production of interleukin 4 by human lymphocytes. Eur J Immunol 21(10):2645–2647. doi:10.1002/eji.1830211053

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu XF, Zhao H, Wei QY, Amos CI, Zhang K, Guo ZZ, Qiao YQ, Hong WK, Spitz MR (2003) XPA polymorphism associated with reduced lung cancer risk and a modulating effect on nucleotide excision repair capacity. Carcinogenesis 24(3):505–509. doi:10.1093/carcin/24.3.505

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang EV, Glaser R (2003) Stress-induced immunomodulation: implications for tumorigenesis. Brain Behav Immun 17:S37–S40

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, England, UK

    Ana Vitlic & Anna C. Phillips

  2. MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, UK

    Ana Vitlic, Janet M. Lord & Anna C. Phillips

  3. School of Immunity and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, UK

    Janet M. Lord

Authors
  1. Ana Vitlic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Janet M. Lord
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anna C. Phillips
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna C. Phillips.

About this article

Cite this article

Vitlic, A., Lord, J.M. & Phillips, A.C. Stress, ageing and their influence on functional, cellular and molecular aspects of the immune system. AGE 36, 1169–1185 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-014-9631-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-014-9631-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation