Lecture
Psychoneuroimmunology
Definition: the interaction among behavioural, neuroendocrine and immunological
processes of adaptation; the tusy if the interaction between psychological processes
and the nervous and immune systems of the human body
The immune system
● Surveillance system of the body
Natural immunity:
● defence against a variety of pathogens
● Granulocytes: Largest group of cells
● This includes neutrophils and macrophages (congregate at the site of injury or
infection, release toxic substances), which are phagocytes
● Macrophages: release cytokines which lead to inflammation, fever, promote wound
healing
● Natural killer (NK) cells: recognize viral infections or cancer cells, lyse cells by
releasing toxins factors, important in signaling potential malignancies
Specific immunity
● Slower process, but more specific
● Lymphocytes have very specific receptors for one antigen; once activated, they will
divide to create a proliferative response
● Both types of immunity work together
● Natural followed by specific
Humoral immunity: mediated by B lymphocytes, provide protection against bacteria,
neutralize toxins produced by bacteria, prevent viral infections
Cell-mediated immunity: involves T lymphocytes from the thymus gland, operates at the
cellular level
Cytotoxic (Tc) cells: response to specific antigens
Helper T (Th) cells enhance functioning of Tc cells, B cells and macrophages
Immunocompetence
● Immune function can be assessed by: studying distribution of immune cells in blood
samples; examining the functioning of immune cells
● Blood examination counts numbers of T, B and NK cells; assesses the amount of
circulating lymphokines or antibody level
● Assessing the functioning of cells includes examining activating, proliferation,
transformation, cytotoxicity of cells
● Common assessments: lymphocyte cytotoxicity, phagocytic activity
● Antibody production to latent virus: if body produces antibodies to inactive viruses, it
is a sign the immune system is not working well (Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex-
virus)
, ● Immune response to vaccine is also an indicator
○ The body should produce enough antibody to the vaccine
○ Determines the degree of immune response to antigen
● Immunocompetence vs. immunocompromised
● Wound repair: is indicator
Stress and immune function
● Short term stressors
○ Produce fight or flight response
○ Elicit an immune response to potential injury or infection
○ Increase in NK cells, large granular lymphocytes
○ Also leads to down regulation of specific immunity
● Long term stressors
○ Causes both cellular and humoral down regulation
○ Stronger among elderly or those with other issues
○ Can impact other comorbid issues
Immune response
Intense: short term
Recruit cells that help defend against wounds/infection
Acute stressor: few days regulate immune functioning to combat threat from pathogens
Chronic stressor (few days)
Down regulation of immune functioning (disease)
Stress and immune function
● Stress involving threat to self can increased proinflammatory cytokine activity
● Anticipatory stress can compromise immune functioning: decreased number of Th
cells
● Effects of stress on the immune system can be delayed
● Those under stress show increased vulnerability to ID
● Stress may be aggravated diseases associated with inflammatory processes
● Stress may increase negative emotions which compromises immune function
● Depression is positively correlated with immunity
● Social support found to increase NK cell activity
● Optimism improves immune function
● Self-efficacy over stressful events improves immunocompromise
● Relaxation and massage may mute stress and prevent immunocompromise
AIDS: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
● Estimated to have fun in Central Africa in the 70’s
● Spread quickly within countries around there
● Factors that have contributed include:
○ High rates of unprotext/extramarital sex
○ Low condom use
○ High rates of gonorrhea
○ Non-sterile techniques
● By 2000 there were 16,000 cases and 45,000 with HIV in Canada
Psychoneuroimmunology
Definition: the interaction among behavioural, neuroendocrine and immunological
processes of adaptation; the tusy if the interaction between psychological processes
and the nervous and immune systems of the human body
The immune system
● Surveillance system of the body
Natural immunity:
● defence against a variety of pathogens
● Granulocytes: Largest group of cells
● This includes neutrophils and macrophages (congregate at the site of injury or
infection, release toxic substances), which are phagocytes
● Macrophages: release cytokines which lead to inflammation, fever, promote wound
healing
● Natural killer (NK) cells: recognize viral infections or cancer cells, lyse cells by
releasing toxins factors, important in signaling potential malignancies
Specific immunity
● Slower process, but more specific
● Lymphocytes have very specific receptors for one antigen; once activated, they will
divide to create a proliferative response
● Both types of immunity work together
● Natural followed by specific
Humoral immunity: mediated by B lymphocytes, provide protection against bacteria,
neutralize toxins produced by bacteria, prevent viral infections
Cell-mediated immunity: involves T lymphocytes from the thymus gland, operates at the
cellular level
Cytotoxic (Tc) cells: response to specific antigens
Helper T (Th) cells enhance functioning of Tc cells, B cells and macrophages
Immunocompetence
● Immune function can be assessed by: studying distribution of immune cells in blood
samples; examining the functioning of immune cells
● Blood examination counts numbers of T, B and NK cells; assesses the amount of
circulating lymphokines or antibody level
● Assessing the functioning of cells includes examining activating, proliferation,
transformation, cytotoxicity of cells
● Common assessments: lymphocyte cytotoxicity, phagocytic activity
● Antibody production to latent virus: if body produces antibodies to inactive viruses, it
is a sign the immune system is not working well (Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex-
virus)
, ● Immune response to vaccine is also an indicator
○ The body should produce enough antibody to the vaccine
○ Determines the degree of immune response to antigen
● Immunocompetence vs. immunocompromised
● Wound repair: is indicator
Stress and immune function
● Short term stressors
○ Produce fight or flight response
○ Elicit an immune response to potential injury or infection
○ Increase in NK cells, large granular lymphocytes
○ Also leads to down regulation of specific immunity
● Long term stressors
○ Causes both cellular and humoral down regulation
○ Stronger among elderly or those with other issues
○ Can impact other comorbid issues
Immune response
Intense: short term
Recruit cells that help defend against wounds/infection
Acute stressor: few days regulate immune functioning to combat threat from pathogens
Chronic stressor (few days)
Down regulation of immune functioning (disease)
Stress and immune function
● Stress involving threat to self can increased proinflammatory cytokine activity
● Anticipatory stress can compromise immune functioning: decreased number of Th
cells
● Effects of stress on the immune system can be delayed
● Those under stress show increased vulnerability to ID
● Stress may be aggravated diseases associated with inflammatory processes
● Stress may increase negative emotions which compromises immune function
● Depression is positively correlated with immunity
● Social support found to increase NK cell activity
● Optimism improves immune function
● Self-efficacy over stressful events improves immunocompromise
● Relaxation and massage may mute stress and prevent immunocompromise
AIDS: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
● Estimated to have fun in Central Africa in the 70’s
● Spread quickly within countries around there
● Factors that have contributed include:
○ High rates of unprotext/extramarital sex
○ Low condom use
○ High rates of gonorrhea
○ Non-sterile techniques
● By 2000 there were 16,000 cases and 45,000 with HIV in Canada
