Module 3 - SLP STRESS AND THE IMMUNE RESPONSE

Stress and the Immune Response Name Institution of Affiliation Date Stress and the Immune Response Stressful occasions can cause dysregulation of body immune response in both human and animal immune system. Inquiries in both human and animals raised concern that the adverse effects are significant to health. Thus, research on how stress can impair the body immune are of interest in the health field. Key studies regarding this topic are focused on immune response, the endocrine system, and the central nervous system. Moreover, the researchers attempt to unfold the impact of these interactions on an individual's health. The functioning of the body's immune system can be dysregulated by two pathways, which are the sympathetic adrenal medullary (SAM) and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA). The granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes have receptors for catecholamine and cortisol (Knight, 2003). These products can alter the process of cytolysis, the formation of antibodies, secretion of cytokine and proliferation process in the body. For instance, research in vitro where peripheral blood leukocytes were treated with catecholamine resulted in an upsurge in interleukin-10 synthesis and decline in the production of interleukin-12 (Padgett, 2003). If the findings reflect the likely occurrence in an individual, it can cause an alteration in CD4+ T-helper cells phenotype, from a Th1 profile to Th2 profile. The Th1 is responsible for cell immunity while the Th2 is functioning in the production of antibodies. Glucocorticoid Hormones and HPA Axis The hypothalamus monitors and receives environmental information, and it's charged with the responsibility of coordinating responses through hormones and nerves (Dhabhar, 2014). The brains emotional portion is among the body parts that supply info to the hypothalamus. The brain commands the secretion of hormones process from either the pituitary glands or other tissues. Hence, corticotrophin releasing hormone is secreted by this interaction. The hormone prompts the expression of ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic) hormone. Which further stimulates the release of the glucocorticoid (GC) hormone. The nervous system, the renal and normal cardiovascular functioning is interfered with by these hormones (Marsland, 2002). In response to a threat, the GC hormone stimulates glucose metabolism which provides energy to fight the stressor (Padget, 2003). However, when activated, the HPA axis can worsen the body condition, hence, an increment of difficulties to the victim. Mechanism of Action of GC Hormones Its lipophilic nature of the GC hormone enables it to pass through cell's plasma membrane. Once out of the cell the hormone targets cells with GC receptors (GR) (Padget, 2003). Under normal conditions the GC hormone binds the mineralocorticoid receptor but when the body is stressed it binds GR receptors including those in the immune cells. In the immune cells studies have shown that it can inhibit NF-kB activity (Agarwal, 2001). Hence, causing the immune dysregulat...