Introduction Flashcards
Definition
psychoneuroimmunology is a young discipline which comprehension immunology, neurology, endocrinology, psychology and behavior medicine, and which is interest in the complex interactions between behavior, immune system and nervous system in both healthy and ill organisms
- Solomon, 1999
Main topic of psychoneuroimmunology today
- psychiatry
- personality and coping
- the effects of psychosocial interventions
- stress research
- interpersonal relationships
- methodological improvements
- health consequences
Immune response
protection of the organism against foreign material by binding, precipitating or killing them.
Antibodies
molecules that selectively and specifically bind to foreign agens and precipitate or dissolve them
Antigenes
Any molecule or agent that elicit immune reaction
Classificiation of antigens
hetero-antigens: from another species
Izo-antigens: from another individual of the same species
auto-antigens: from the same organism
Immune response (natural and adaptive)
Natural:
- fast, immediate reaction
- automatic recognition of typical antigene-pattern
- no learning or adaption
- mainly agains viruses or circulating tumorous cells
Adaptive:
- is able to learn new antigens
- slower reactions
- very specific recognition
Neutrophil granulocytes
consume an digest inactivated bacteria and immune complexes
B-lymphocytes
produce and secreting antibodies
T-lymphocytes
elements of the cell-mediated immune response
Phases of the immune response
Afferent phase:
- antigene detection/identification
Activation period:
- immune communication
- antibody production
Efferent phase:
- killing foreign cells
- formation of memory-cells
Primary immune response
Reaction to the antigenes is relatively slow and weak
Secondary immune response
Fast, intensive and effective reaction to already familiar antigene systems with the help of earlier formed memory cells.
Proliferation
cell division
Immune response
- sensitisation
- proliferation (cell division)
- Effector phase
Antibodies
molecules produced by the immune-system against the antigens which are able to neutralize them
Primary lymphoid organs
Thymus: located in front of the heart and aortas, behind the sternum
Secondary lymphoid organs
Spleen: immune response against antigens in the blood delivered via the bloodstream
Immune mediators
Cytokines
Immune-aging
The concentration of leukocytes, granulocytes and lymphocytes do not decline strongly with age
A decline in the number of lymphocytes in very old age
Primary immune-deficiency
Temporary, physiological
Secondary immune deficiency
Because of other illness or pathological state (cancer, infectious disease, diabetes, lack of spleen, AIDS)
pregnancy, old age
Immune-complex disorders
antigen-antibody complexes in the organs + inflammation
Symptoms: depends on the localization of immune complexes.
The component of sickness behavior
psychological response:
- fever
- change in the metabolism of the liver
Stress response:
- activation of the SNS
- activation of the HPA
Behavioral response:
- decrease in consumption of food and drink
- depressed mood
- cognitive changes
The adaptivity of different components of sickness behavior
fever
behavior
pain
The adaptivity of different components of sickness behavior - FEVER
- Slowing down the reproduction of microorganisms
- activating the HPA-axis
The adaptivity of different components of sickness behavior - BEHAVIOR
- Decreaseing the energy-loss
- the production of fever
- decreasing heat-loss and producing energy
Pain as a part of sickness behavior
- has a reestablishing function (help recovery-behavior)
- force to immobilization
- hyperalgesia
Main characteristics of cytokines
- multieffective bioactive agents, not hormones
- small size proteins
- can have different effects in different organs
Where are cytokines produced?
CNS
Mechanisms of cytokine-brain communication
- in regions where BBB (blood-brain-barrier) is lacking
- with the help of carrier-molecules
- through peripheral afferent nerve-endings
The effects of testosterone on immune functions
- enhance the vulnerability to infections
- suppress the symptoms of some inflammatory disease
Growth hormones
two of the hypothalamic hormones positively affect immune functions
- promotes growth in almost all body-cells
Growth hormones on lymphocytes
can directly and/or indirectly modulate the immune response to infection or stress. its role: maintaining the homeostasis in the immune system
Substance P
Primary function: the transmission of pain signals in the spinal cord
Melatonin
improtant factor of circadian and seasonal rhythmicity
Disturbance of melatonin production?
Can lead to affective disorder, psychosomatic disorders, psychiatric problems, cancer
