EFFECTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS ON SERUM IMMUNOGLOBULIN, COMPLEMENT AND ACUTE-PHASE PROTEIN CONCENTRATIONS IN NORMAL VOLUNTEERS

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of academic examinati on stress on serum immunoglobulins (Igs), i.e. IgA, IgG, IgM, compleme nt factors, i.e. C3c and C4, and acute phase proteins, i.e. alpha 1-ac id glycoprotein (alpha 1-S), haptoglobin (Hp), and alpha 2-macroglobul in (alpha 2-M). Thirty-seven university students participated in this study. Serum was sampled a few weeks before and after as well as one d ay before a difficult academic examination. On the same occasions, stu dents completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Students were divide d into two groups, i.e. those with high-and low-stress perception as d efined by changes in the PSS score. Academic examination stress induce d significant increases in serum IgA, IgG, IgM, and alpha 2-M in stude nts with high-stress perception, but not in these with low stress perc eption. The stress-induced changes in serum IgA, C3c, and alpha 1-S co ncentrations were significantly higher in students with high-stress pe rception than in those with a low-stress perception. The stress-induce d changes in serum IgA, IgM, C3c, C4, alpha 1-S, Hp and alpha 2-M were normalized a few weeks after the stress condition, whereas IgG showed a trend toward normalization. There were significant positive relatio nships between the stress-induced changes in the PSS and serum IgA, Ig c, IgM and alpha 2-M. These findings suggest that psychological stress is accompanied by an altered secretion of serum Igs, complement facto rs and some acute phase proteins. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.