Abstract
In the present study, we examined the relations of state distress to T-cell function and in vivo cytokine levels in 40 male college freshman on two occasions. In addition, we assessed the possible contribution of dispositional determinants of distress to immune-related differences in mood. Relative to characteristically less anxious subjects, subjects who were characteristically more anxious (but subclinically anxious) had more anxious mood and had significantly lower lymphocyte proliferative responses to the mitogen Concanavalin A (Con A), as well as lower levels of circulating interleukin-1β. In addition, subjects with more negative attributional styles for bad events exhibited reduced Con A-stimulated T-cell responses and lower levels of circulating interleukin-2. Finally, subjects who were more depressed (but sub-clinically depressed) also had reduced blastogenic responses. Individual differences in cortisol and β-endorphin were not shown to mediate these relationships. The present study provides evidence that dispositionally-related variations in distress in psychiatrically healthy, relatively unstressed college males have immunological correlates that suggest altered T-cell and macrophage activity.
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Zorrilla, E., DeRubeis, R. & Redei, E. Disposition Predictors Of Individual Differences In T-Cell Function And Cytokine Levels. Neuropsychopharmacol 11, 290 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1380233
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1380233