L1: Psychoneuroimmunolgy

Question 1

PNI

Answer 1

The study of the effect of the mind and brain on health and resistance to disease

Question 2

Ader & Cohen Studies

Answer 2

Rats: conditioned to associated saccharin-laced water with immunosuppressant drug
After, giving them only saccharin, no drug water → immunosuppression

Question 3

1st line of defense

Answer 3

Skin, mucous membrane, gut microbiome

Question 4

2nd line of defense

Answer 4

innate immune cells, inflammatory response (macrophages, NK cells, neutrophils) + mast cells (produce histamine → inflammation)

Question 5

3rd line of defense

Answer 5

Specialized lymphocytes, humoral and cell mediated immunity

Question 6

humoral immunity

Answer 6

antibody-mediated immunity, acts before cells get infected, protect against bacterial & viral reinfection, B-cells produce antibodies that recognize specific antigens

Question 7

cell-mediated immunity

Answer 7

after cells are infected, slower acting, T cells release chemicals that target and destroy infected cells, Th, cytotoxic (CD8), Tregs

Question 8

IL-2 release leads to

Answer 8

T cells

Question 9

B cell growth factor leads to

Answer 9

b cells

Question 10

immunocompetence

Answer 10

The overall ability of the immune system, at any given time, to defend the body against the harmful effects of foreign agents

Question 11

Immune deficiency (or immunocompromised)

Answer 11

an inadequate immune response; may occur naturally, due to disease, or as a side effect of drugs

Question 12

approx x% of people have allergies

Answer 12

40%

Question 13

work by gradual exposure so immune system gets used to the allergen

Answer 13

allergy shots

Question 14

autoimmune disorders

Answer 14

Line between self and invader blurred, body begins to attack itself
More than 80 types

Question 15

autoimmune disorders treated by

Answer 15

anti-inflammatories and immunosuppressant drugs

Question 16

med students during exams study

Answer 16

Found that stress of exams impact how well immune system responds - less Th cells and lower Th/suppressor t cells ratio

Question 17

Pittsburg Cold Studies (2005)

Answer 17

Found a correlation between number of stressful life events and the likelihood of getting a cold
chronic stress influenced likelihood more than acute stress → more immunosuppressed

Question 18

Diathesis-Stress model 2 factors that produce disease

Answer 18

Predisposition (diathesis) to the diseases
Can be biochemical (exposure to virus), genetic or other vulnerabilities developed in childhood

Experiencing stress
Protective factors can mitigate the impact of stress

Question 19

what are glucocorticoids

Answer 19

cortisol, stress hormones

Question 20

impacts of glucocorticoids on the immune system

Answer 20

Shrink thymus gland, halt formation of new lymphocytes, antibodies
Block release of interleukins and interferons making circulating lymphocytes less responsive
Remove lymphocytes from circulation, kill T lymphocytes

Question 21

Glucocorticoids shrink which gland?

Answer 21

thymus

Question 22

lonely participants cold study

Answer 22

Lonely participants no more likely to get the virus then less lonely participants but loneliness predicted greater self-reported cold symptoms severity among those infected, did not predict mucus weight

Question 23

stress impact on cancer

Answer 23

some evidence that stress may impact the growth and spread of cancer, but little evidence that it impacts onset

Question 24

theories of how stress effects cancer

Answer 24

stress weakens the immune system preventing it from detecting and destroying developing cancer cells
stress hormones could promote growth and spread of tumors
could increase risk through chronic inflammation
behavioral influences (smoking, not exercising…)