The effects of psychological stress on plasma interleukin-6 activity in rats

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a particular psychological stress, exposure to an open-field, on plasma IL-6 activity in rats. Plasma IL-6 activity was 40.6 +/- 7.2 units/ml in control rats, 105 +/- 6.8 units/ml after 30 minutes exposure to an open-field, and 221 +/- 17 units/ml after 60 minutes of exposure (p = 0.0003). There was a positive correlation (r = .71, p = 0.043) between the change in plasma IL-6 activity and body temperature. However, we conclude, based on earlier data relating plasma IL-6 activity to body temperature changes following injection of lipopolysaccharide, that the plasma levels of IL-6 following exposure to an open-field are not high enough to account for the rise in body temperature observed in rats during this stress. In conclusion, these experiments indicate that exposure to psychological stress can elevate the plasma concentration of IL-6, a known mediator of the acute phase response.

Incidência de lesão musculoesquelética sem trauma em atletas de handebol

“…Recently, Black 20 , when discussing the mechanisms associated with neurogenic inflammation, proposed that, in response to the psychological stress or to certain physical stressing agents, an inflammatory process may occur by the release of neuropeptides, with consequent activation of inflammatory cells. It is consistent in the literature the correlation between production of cytokines in response to psychological stressing agents 18,19,25 . The stress hormones (cortisol, prolactine and GH), as well as the neurotransmitters, did not present differences between groups, suggesting that even if the athletes are submitted to similar physical stress, it would not be the factor associated with the pathogenesis of the scenario.…”

“…Recently, many studies in experimental models and humans demonstrated that psychological stress stimulates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines [17][18][19] . Black 20 , in extensive review on the topic, shows that, in response to the psychological stress, an inflammatory process occurs by the release by sensory nerves of neuropeptides.…”

Consensus paper of the WFSBP Task Force on Biological Markers: Biological Markers in Depression

“…Activation of the HPA axis is one of the best-documented changes in major depression (Roy et al 1987). Furthermore, the relationship between psychological or physical stress and an enhanced IL-6 secretion in the peripheral immune system seems to be well established (LeMay et al 1990;Salas et al 1990;Zhou et al 1993;Miyahara et al 2000). An impaired ability to cope with stress is often observed in depressed patients.…”

Amyloidosis in Black-footed Cats (Felis nigripes)

“…1 Psychological and physical stressors in rats can elevate plasma interleukin-6, an important mediator of the acute phase response. 16,29 Stressful stimuli can also induce the secretion and production of glucocorticoids. Although glucocorticoids are generally thought to have anti-inflammatory properties, they can enhance the transcriptional activation of serum amyloid A by certain cytokines, most notably interleukins 1 and 6, in humans.…”