PHAGOCYTOSIS AND KILLING OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS - EFFECTS OF STRESSAND DEPRESSION IN CHILDREN

While a large body of literature depicting relationships between depre ssion or stress and immunity exists, few such studies have dealt with children, and none investigated myeloid cell-derived immunity. We inve stigated both phagocytosis and bactericidal activity against Staphyloc occus aureus in children with major depressive disorder (MDD). We foun d that both MDD and stress influence the bactericidal but not the phag ocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The data support the existence of psychobiologic effects in children and suggest possible m echanisms by which depression and stress may affect health.