Psychological stress and colitis

Abstract

Psychological stress and colitisQiu BS, Vallance BA, Blennerhassett PA, Collins SM. The role of CD4+ lymphocytes in the susceptibility of mice to stress-induced reactivation of experimental colitis. Nat Med 1999;5:1178-82. AbstractIdiopathic inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic relapsing condition. The role of stress in causing relapses of inflammatory bowel disease remains controversial. We now show that colitis induced in mice by dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS) resolves by 6 weeks, but can subsequently be reactivated by stress plus a sub-threshold dose of DNBS, but not by DNBS alone. Stress reduced colonic mucin and increased colon permeability. Susceptibility to reactivation by stress required CD4+ lymphocytes and could be adoptively transferred. We conclude that stress reactivates experimental colitis by facilitating entry of luminal contents that activate previously sensitized CD4 cells in the colon. CommentIn cardiovascular disease, the role of stressful life events, personality profiles, and aVective disorders as risk factors for the development of morbidity and mortality from established coronary artery disease is well established.

5-HT2B receptors modulate visceral hypersensitivity in a stress-sensitive animal model of brain-gut axis dysfunction

“…Among the diverse roles of 5‐HT in the CNS, this monoamine is critical for the processing and modulation of pain 3 . Alterations in the balance between facilitatory and inhibitory inputs from the midbrain to the spinal dorsal horn may manifest as an increase in pain perception and can be precipitated by insults such as stress 4–6 . Such perturbations may result in the development of visceral hypersensitivity 7 .…”

“…3 Alterations in the balance between facilitatory and inhibitory inputs from the midbrain to the spinal dorsal horn may manifest as an increase in pain perception and can be precipitated by insults such as stress. [4][5][6] Such perturbations may result in the development of visceral hypersensitivity. 7 Altered 5-HT metabolism has been proposed to play a role in hypersensitivity in functional bowel disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).…”

Effects of restraint stress on NALT structure and nasal IgA levels

“…The robust information available confirms that psychological stress plays a key role in the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of inflammatory bowel disease [1][2][3][4][5].…”

The moment of truth: stress, lying and the GI tract

“…Significant GI pathology may result in mental distress and agitation. Conversely, anxiety and psychological stress may generate untoward GI motor and secretory events, unpleasant sensations, as well as changes in local immunity and defense systems [1,2]. Clinical experience easily attests to the role of stress in both the onset and modulation of symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome [3].…”