Can stress activate the immune system?

[Bio freck]

Stress generally inactivates the immune system.Would you think stress can also activate the same?

[Appolinaria]

I read this article recently. Since stress and depression are often related, you might find it interesting.

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120301103756.htm

 

"For several years, researchers have seen links between depression and inflammation, or over-activation of the immune system. People with depression tend to have higher levels of inflammation, even if they're not fighting an infection."

[CharonY]

There are certain pathways that are elevated during stress (T2, for instance, IIRC). Certain autoimmune diseases are triggered during stress (most likely) because of that. So different stimuli may affect different immune pathways differently. There, three differents in a row.

[Bio freck]

That's fine. Psycho neuro Immunology also predicts that a little amount of stress works a lot on the circulation of blood and raises the blood pressure to an extent so that it is able to compete certain diseases during excitement.So taking a little stress is not bad!!!

[CharonY]

Well, having a high immune response is generally not a very good thing. While it may reduce the incident of smaller infections resulting in full blown diseases, a stronger infection can result in a very strong inflammatory response or trigger autoimmune responses. You can think of it as delaying a cold in exchange for something really nasty.

[Mrs Zeta]

A small degree of stress (challenge) can upregulate several steps of the immune responce. This is based on the well-established concept of hormesis

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18480142

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21143891