Elsevier

Autoimmunity Reviews

Volume 7, Issue 4, February 2008, Pages 340-343
Autoimmunity Reviews

Environmental and occupational stress and autoimmunity

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2007.12.003Get rights and content

Abstract

The immune system and the neuroendocrine system machinery modulate each other, including life events-induced stresses and interpersonal conflicts, promoting the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines, overproduction of which influence behaviour. In addition, the balance of systemic and local pro-inflammatory cytokines to systemic and local anti-inflammatory cytokines, is impaired to such an extent that, in genetically-predisposed individuals, this aberrancy may lead to autoimmune diseases. Occupational stress likely influences their onset. For example, subclinical autoimmune hypothyroidism has been identified in numerous shift-workers of an Italian hospital. Such a threat impacts the policy of health surveillance of the workers and requires dedication of further studies to the relationship between occupational stress and autoimmunity.

Section snippets

The targets of neuroendocrine features

The cellular and the humoral areas of immunity involve two distinct subsets of CD4+ T helper (Th) cells: the first produces Th1-type cytokines, such as IL-2, IFN-γ and lymphotoxins, and the second generates Th2-type cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-2 and IL-12 [5]. Furthermore, skewing of the Th1/Th2 balance toward a Th2-dominant response is a clue to the prevalence of allergic diseases in populations from developing countries, over those people from the third-world countries. This difference may be

Occupational stress and immune system

Prolonged sorrow affects a variety of natural defences, impairs inflammatory responses, exaggerates susceptibility to infections, and accelerates the development of autoimmune traits [2], [3], [8]. Viral and bacterial infections, allergic diseases, intense exercise, pregnancy and post-partum states all feed the stress machinery. Moreover, relationships between stress on the one hand, and asthma, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis on the other, have been established, both in adults and children [12]

Environmental stress and autoimmunity

A flurry of cytokines and chemokines, including IL-32, the novel pro-inflammatory cytokine, contribute in making-up the complicated network of inflammatory interactions [24]. Impaired modulation of the systemic and local, pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokine homeostasis set up an autoimmunity-prone status in genetically-predisposed individuals [25]. In this regard, stresses due to serious life-events, interpersonal conflicts, complicated bereavement anxiety and depression are acknowledged as

Occupational stress and autoimmunity

Work context factors, such as job field, employment status and hours of work are associated with greater perceived strain in employed persons with arthritis [35]. Shift work, which induces circadian disruption of physiological neuroendocrine and immune rhythms, may also activate autoimmune derangements. In this respect, it has been noticed that night-shift workers perceive their environment as less favorable than day-shift workers [36]. In order to detect any relation of shift work to

Take-home messages

  • The central nervous system takes the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis to modulate immune functions.

  • Experimental stress polarizes immune activity toward a Th2-type humoral response.

  • High levels of blood NK and lymphocyte-activated killer activity characterized individuals with easy lifestyle.

  • Serious life events generate pro-inflammatory cytokines.

  • Stressors trigger mechanisms responsible for autoimmune diseases.

References (41)

  • M.L. Castellani et al.

    Anti-chemokine therapy for inflammatory diseases

    Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol

    (2007)
  • S. Romagnani

    T-cell subsets (Th1 versus Th2)

    Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol

    (2000)
  • P. Boscolo et al.

    Expression of lymphocyte subpopulations, cytokine serum levels, and blood and urinary trace elements in asymptomatic atopic men exposed to an urban environment

    Int Arch Occup Eviron Health

    (1999)
  • G. D 'Offizi et al.

    An IL-15 dependent CD8 T cell response to selected HIV epitopes is related to viral control in early-treated HIV-infected subjects

    Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol

    (2007)
  • C.O. Hoglund et al.

    Changes in immune regulation in response to examination stress in atopic and healthy individuals

    Clin Exp Allergy

    (2006)
  • P. Boscolo et al.

    The immune response of women with prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields produced by radiotelevision broadcasting stations

    Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol

    (2006)
  • C. Feliciani et al.

    Tannic acid induces in vitro acantholysis of keratinocytes via IL-1α and TNF-α

    Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol

    (2007)
  • E. Chen et al.

    Socioeconomic status, stress, and immune markers in adolescents with asthma

    Psycosom Med

    (2003)
  • K. Morimoto et al.

    Lifestyle and mental health status are associated with natural killer cell and lymphokine-activated killer cell activities

    Sci Total Environ

    (2001)
  • Q. Li et al.

    Forest bathing enhances human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins

    Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol

    (2007)
  • Cited by (0)

    View full text