Academic Stress—Influence on Epstein-Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Reactivation, Cortisol, and Prolactin

Matalka, Khalid Z.; Sidki, A M; Abdul-Malik, Suzanne M.; Thewaini, A. J.

doi:10.1309/u9n6-3d0g-rye8-k3cm

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…These results support and extend our previous observations [3,4] that latent EBV reactivation increased significantly just before spaceflight, a finding that is consistent with a stress-induced decrease in cellular immune function. A previous study of academic-examination stress showed that, although a significant increase in EBV antibody titer occurred, indicating reactivation of EBV, no reactivation of CMV was observed [12]. However, Glaser et al [13] showed increased titers of antibodies to herpesviruses in medical students during their final examinations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Reactivation and Shedding of Cytomegalovirus in Astronauts during Spaceflight

et al. 2000

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in 71 astronauts was investigated, using polymerase chain reaction. A significantly greater (P<.0001) shedding frequency was found in urine samples from astronauts before spaceflight (10.6%) than in urine from the healthy control subject group (1.2%). Two of 4 astronauts studied during spaceflight shed CMV in urine. A significant increase (P<.0001) in CMV antibody titer, compared with baseline values, was also found 10 days before spaceflight. CMV antibody titer was further increased (P<.001) 3 days after landing, compared with 10 days before the mission. Significant increases in stress hormones were also found after landing. These results demonstrate that CMV reactivation occurred in astronauts before spaceflight and indicate that CMV may further reactivate during spaceflight.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Reactivation and Shedding of Cytomegalovirus in Astronauts during Spaceflight

et al. 2000

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, astronauts had different patterns of latent reactivation of EBV and CMV during space flight (Mehta and Pierson, 2007). Similarly, latent CMV and EBV reactivated differently during academic stress (Matalka et al, 2000). Indeed, in vivo reactivation of different herpesviruses may involve multiple neuroendocirine interactions (Glaser et al, 1985; Kiecolt-Glaser et al, 1984; Kiecolt-Glaser and Glaser, 1987; Yang et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatigue and herpesvirus latency in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer

Fagundes¹,

Glaser²,

Alfano³

et al. 2012

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fatigue is a notable clinical problem in cancer survivors, and understanding its pathophysiology is important. The current study sought to determine biomarkers of fatigue that exist before cancer treatment. Relationships between the expression of latent Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) and fatigue were examined in 158 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer or awaiting a positive diagnostic result. Higher CMV antibody titers, but not EBV antibody titers, were associated with a greater likelihood of being fatigued. Associations between fatigue and higher CMV antibody titers remained after controlling for alcohol use, smoking, comorbidities, depressive symptoms, age, BMI, cancer stage, and sleep problems. More sleep problems and higher levels of depressive symptoms were also associated with a greater likelihood of being fatigued. CMV antibody titers, but not EBV antibody titers, were associated with higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), but CRP was not associated with fatigue. When the cellular immune system is compromised, reactivation of latent herpesviruses may fuel chronic inflammatory responses. Prior work has suggested that fatigue may be related to inflammation and its associated sickness behaviors; accordingly, our findings may be tapping into this same physiological substrate.

show abstract

“…The data in the present study supports the above observation by showing that prolactin + cortisol and estradiol + cortisol restored cortisol-induced cytokine suppression. These studies also show that the balance between hormones regulates cytokine production from stimulated leukocytes [27] and might prevent stress-induced reactivation of latent Epstein-Barr virus by inducing higher prolactin levels [9,27] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Third, stress, as a modulator of endocrine responses, has been shown to increase cortisol and prolactin levels. Matalka et al [27] suggested that this increase in prolactin may have a regulatory role and counters the effect of cortisol. Fourth, different exposure times (minutes, hours, or days) of hormones such as glucocorticoids to immune cells have been shown to produce different cytokine patterns [13,28,29] .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress-Induced versus Preovulatory and Pregnancy Hormonal Levels in Modulating Cytokine Production following Whole Blood Stimulation

Matalka

Ali²

2005

Neuroimmunomodulation

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Estradiol, progesterone, prolactin and cortisol concentrations are substantially increased during pregnancy. Also, cortisol and prolactin levels are elevated during stress. In the present study, we exposed peripheral blood to estradiol, progesterone, prolactin and cortisol alone or in combination for 24 h before stimulation with T-dependent (phytohemagglutinin, PHA) and independent activators (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) to study their immunomodulatory role in interleukin-12 (IL-12), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and IL-10 production in a whole blood model. This should be similar to in vivo exposure conditions such as long-term stress, preovulatory or pregnancy periods. The present study showed that the stress-induced and preovulatory levels of prolactin and estradiol, respectively, increased the production of IFN-γ and IL-12 levels (and IL-10 in the case of estradiol) in PHA + LPS-stimulated whole blood, and inhibited a hydrocortisone (100 nmol/l) suppressive effect on IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-10 productions. In LPS-stimulated whole blood, however, prolactin enhanced only IL-10 production levels in a non-concentration-dependent manner. Higher prolactin levels as in pregnancy did not modulate any of the cytokines, but pregnancy estradiol concentrations only induced higher IL-10 levels in PHA + LPS-stimulated whole blood. All progesterone levels tested revealed no effect on any of the cytokines following whole blood stimulation. Our results indicate that (1) a long exposure time of prolactin and estradiol to whole blood modulates the production of cytokines in a concentration- and stimulus-dependent manner; (2) stress-induced levels of prolactin and preovulatory estradiol concentrations can regulate cortisol-induced cytokine suppression, and (3) even though the cytokine pattern is different, pregnancy estradiol and cortisol levels decreased the IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio, thereby keeping the anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels favored during pregnancy, which could be useful in regulating inflammatory-mediated autoimmune diseases.

show abstract

Academic Stress—Influence on Epstein-Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Reactivation, Cortisol, and Prolactin

Cited by 16 publications

References 28 publications

Reactivation and Shedding of Cytomegalovirus in Astronauts during Spaceflight

Reactivation and Shedding of Cytomegalovirus in Astronauts during Spaceflight

Fatigue and herpesvirus latency in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer

Stress-Induced versus Preovulatory and Pregnancy Hormonal Levels in Modulating Cytokine Production following Whole Blood Stimulation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About