PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL, NEUROENDOCRINE AND CELLULAR IMMUNE-REACTIONS UNDER PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS

Emotional stress is often followed by increased susceptibility to infe ctions. Natural killer (NK) cells play a major role in the immediate i mmune response controlling this susceptibility. In this study on 45 fi rst-time parachutists, it is demonstrated that highly controlled psych ological stress increased psychophysiological variables, enhanced the secretion of sympathetic-adrenal hormones and also led to a significan t increase of NK cells and their cytotoxic activity followed by a decr ease below starting values. This immunological alteration is correlate d with the secretion of noradrenaline during the emotional strain. Qui ck mobilization of these cytotoxic effector cells is suggested as a ma jor mechanism for the effective adaptation of the immune system to str ess situations.