Acute stressor exposure both suppresses acquired immunity and potentiates innate immunity

Acute stressor exposure alters immune function. Rats exposed to inescapable tail shock stress (IS) generate less antibody to a benign, antigenic protein, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). The following studies examined the effect of IS on peritoneal cavity, spleen, and mesenteric lymph node cell number, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production, and nitrite production. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with KLH (200 μg) or saline immediately before IS exposure and killed 0, 48, and 96 h after IS termination. KLH immunization resulted in elevated cell numbers and IFN-γ levels 2-4 days later in nonstressed control rats. In contrast, rats exposed to IS failed to increase cell number and IFN-γ levels in response to KLH. The T cell subpopulations affected were CD4 T cells, specifically the Th1-like subset. In addition, in rats exposed to IS + KLH, nitrite production was potentiated 2-4 days after stressor termination. IS had little effect on these measures in saline-injected rats. These data support the conclusion that exposure to IS suppresses the expansion of anti-KLH lymphocytes, possibly anti-KLH Th1 cells. In addition, stressor exposure potentiates the production of nitrite. Importantly, this potentiated response occurred only in KLH-immunized animals, suggesting that macrophages may be primed by stressor exposure and thus respond more vigorously to antigen. The potential links between these changes are discussed.