[Interactions between the immune system and the psyche]. 1998

B Mayr, and A Mayr
Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie und Seuchenlehre, Tierärztlichen Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.

Compared to well documented studies on immunosuppression "psychologically induced immunoenhancement" is a rather neglected topic in medical literature and research, even in the new established field of psychoneuroimmunology. Starting with the premise that research questions emanating from this field and from behavioural medicine may provide critical information for understanding the phenomena of immunomodulation, evidence and illustrations of psychologically induced immunoenhancement are provided in the context of psychosocial neuroimmunomodulation. Distress-reducing interventions such as progressive relaxation training, imagery, experimentally induced short-term positive mood states and mirthful laughter enhances various aspects of immune functions, i.e., primarily the phylogenetically old paraspecific parameters. Additionally, a larger variety of emotional/psychosocial factors with potentially but yet unproved immunoenhancing effects seems to exist. In particular, enhancement of phagocytosis, NK cell and T cell response to phytohemagglutinin, decrease in the number of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells and increase in the number of circulating T helper/inducer cells in peripheral blood, and enhancement of spontaneous lymphocyte blastogenesis as well as cytokines have all been shown to be associated with the above mentioned intervention techniques.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007107 Immune System The body's defense mechanism against foreign organisms or substances and deviant native cells. It includes the humoral immune response and the cell-mediated response and consists of a complex of interrelated cellular, molecular, and genetic components. Immune Systems,System, Immune,Systems, Immune
D007108 Immune Tolerance The specific failure of a normally responsive individual to make an immune response to a known antigen. It results from previous contact with the antigen by an immunologically immature individual (fetus or neonate) or by an adult exposed to extreme high-dose or low-dose antigen, or by exposure to radiation, antimetabolites, antilymphocytic serum, etc. Immunosuppression (Physiology),Immunosuppressions (Physiology),Tolerance, Immune
D007121 Immunocompetence The ability of lymphoid cells to mount a humoral or cellular immune response when challenged by antigen. Competence, Immunologic,Immunologic Competence,Immunological Competence,Competence, Immunological
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013312 Stress, Physiological The unfavorable effect of environmental factors (stressors) on the physiological functions of an organism. Prolonged unresolved physiological stress can affect HOMEOSTASIS of the organism, and may lead to damaging or pathological conditions. Biotic Stress,Metabolic Stress,Physiological Stress,Abiotic Stress,Abiotic Stress Reaction,Abiotic Stress Response,Biological Stress,Metabolic Stress Response,Physiological Stress Reaction,Physiological Stress Reactivity,Physiological Stress Response,Abiotic Stress Reactions,Abiotic Stress Responses,Abiotic Stresses,Biological Stresses,Biotic Stresses,Metabolic Stress Responses,Metabolic Stresses,Physiological Stress Reactions,Physiological Stress Responses,Physiological Stresses,Reaction, Abiotic Stress,Reactions, Abiotic Stress,Response, Abiotic Stress,Response, Metabolic Stress,Stress Reaction, Physiological,Stress Response, Metabolic,Stress Response, Physiological,Stress, Abiotic,Stress, Biological,Stress, Biotic,Stress, Metabolic
D019222 Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical The relation between the mind and the body in a religious, social, spiritual, behavioral, and metaphysical context. This concept is significant in the field of alternative medicine. It differs from the relationship between physiologic processes and behavior where the emphasis is on the body's physiology ( Mind-Body Relations (Metaphysics),Mind-Body Relations (Non-Physiology),Body-Mind Relations,Soul-Body Relations,Body Mind Relations,Body-Mind Relation,Metaphysical Mind-Body Relation,Metaphysical Mind-Body Relations,Mind Body Relations (Metaphysics),Mind Body Relations (Non Physiology),Mind Body Relations, Metaphysical,Mind-Body Relation (Metaphysics),Mind-Body Relation (Non-Physiology),Mind-Body Relation, Metaphysical,Relation, Body-Mind,Relation, Metaphysical Mind-Body,Relation, Mind-Body (Metaphysics),Relation, Mind-Body (Non-Physiology),Relation, Soul-Body,Relations, Body-Mind,Relations, Metaphysical Mind-Body,Relations, Mind-Body (Metaphysics),Relations, Mind-Body (Non-Physiology),Relations, Soul-Body,Soul Body Relations,Soul-Body Relation

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