Reserpine-induced model of stress suppresses mucosal immunity

Stress contributes significantly to the development of many diseases. In clinical studies, a strong correlation between depression and immune dysfunction has been shown. Our previous studies indicated that sympathetic innervation can regulate intestinal mucosal immunity through sympathetic synapses, but the mechanism in stress/depression‐induced intestinal immune deficiency was unclear. Using a mouse model in which behavioural stress/depression is chemically induced by reserpine, it is found that there is a substantial deficiency of intestinal local humoral and particularly specific antibody response to the antigen stimulation in reserpine‐treated group. No significant difference of CD4+, CD8+ or Mac1+ cells between reserpine‐treated and control groups was detected in the intestine. This deficiency is closely correlated with stress/depression. A possible correlation between stress, cytokine secretion and humoral immunity in vivo is postulated.