Natural v. Acquired / Specific immune parameters
Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior
 Natural immunity
 Genetic, species-wide antigen compliment
 Quick acting, general cellular immune components
 Macrophages
 Compliment
 Natural Killer
Cytokine
release

Inflammation
 Acquired / specific immunity
 Vaccines, immune memory
 Slow , highly targeted
 T helper cells
 T cytotoxic cells (“T cells”)
 β cells  Antibodies 
Psychoimmunology
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Recognize antigen on cells
“lock on” expressed antigen
& lyse cells
Recognize & kill “free”
(plasma) antigen
Cytokine pathway
Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior
 Stress or physical trauma  cytokine pathway
Pro-inflammatory
Up-regulation of
cytokines
natural / cellular
immunity
• IL6,
Trauma /
infection
•tumor
NK necrosis
factor
Acute
stress
•
proliferation &
NK
cytotoxicity
Clear / avoid infection
Inflammation
“Sickness
behavior”
• Lethargy
• Withdrawal
• Responsiveness to
pain
• Energy
conservation
• Stress reduction
• Avoid pathogens
Psychoimmunology
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Cytokine pathway
Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior
 Affect-driven alterations in cytokine pathway
Inadequate wound
healing
Pro-inflammatory
Down-regulation
cytokines
of acquired /
specific
• IL6,
immunity
• tumor necrosis
Trauma /
infection
Chronic
Stress,
Negative
affect
Clear / avoid infection
Chronic Inflammation
factor
 NK
 Antibody titers
C-reactive
protein, Il6, etc.
Morbidity,
CHD
Psychoimmunology
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Plaque
Lipids
“Sickness
behavior”
• Lethargy
• Withdrawal
• Responsiveness to
pain
• Energy
conservation
• Stress reduction
• Avoid pathogens
HPA pathway
 Hypothalamic – pituitary – adrenocortical
Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior
pathway
Stress,
ψTrauma,
chronic
arousal
Decreasing
threshold for
HPA
activation
Catecholamine,
cortisol secretion
Immune
activation
Inflammation
Morbidity
Psychoimmunology
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HPA pathway
 Linkage of HPA axis, immune products, and
Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior
affect
Stress,
ψTrauma,
chronic
arousal
Negative
affect, Anxiety,
Insomnia,
memory
deficits
Catecholamine,
cortisol secretion
Immune
activation
Inflammation
Morbidity
Psychoimmunology
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Bi-directional effects
 Bi-directional: immune competence and affect
Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior
 Depression, stress, arousal  HPA activation 
inflammation & NK depletion
 HIV:
 Depression, concealment of MSM status  mortality
 ART treatment  lessened depressive affect
 Cytokine stimulation  depressed affect, lethargy.
Psychoimmunology
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Bi-directional process of immune system & ψ
Ψ Mediators:
Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior
• Diet
• Alcohol / drug use
• Exercise / activity
Affect:
• Depression
Morbidity &
mortality:
• Anger & anxiety
• URI
• Stress
• CHD
Immune
Mediators:
• NK / Il6 / cytokine
production
• C-reactive protein
• HPA pathway
• Inflammation
Psychoimmunology
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• Cancer
Cytokine / immune system effects on depression
Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior
 Inflammation / “sickness” behavior may interfere
with hippocampal-mediated learning
 Similar mechanism as cognitive load
 Interference with avoidance learning
Psychoimmunology
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Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior
Chronic disease, “illness behavior” and depression
Psychoimmunology
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Key Immunological moderators
 Gender;
Psychology 415; Social Basis of Health Behavior
 Mediated by threshold for negative affect or depression Dx




Race;
SES; strong main effect on all health parameters
Neuroticism (type “D” or “C” personality)
Acute Stress
 Bereavement
Biphasic model:
 Increase in cortisol, norepinephrine
Immune enhancement (?)
 consistent decrease in NK proliferation
 Trauma / environmental change
Immune suppression
 Decrease in cortisol
 Increase in cellular immunity?
 Social / marital conflict [“high anger” couples] >> social / marital support
 Exams (x age…)
 Chronic stress
 Caregiving burden  [distress]  decrements in humoral & cellular systems
 (Non)marriage in men
 Non-disclosure among MSM  HIV mortality
Psychoimmunology
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