UNDERSTANDING STRESS AND DISEASE

1. UNDERSTANDING STRESS AND DISEASE CHAPTER 6

2. The Immune System • The system responsible for recognizing SELF from NON-SELF. • Solely responsible for killing NON-SELF • Works 24/7. You are never not bombarded with things that are NOT SELF (Sorry germ phobics)

3. Those That Are Not Self • Antigen - any substance that can trigger an immune response. Some are pathogens. • Bacterial – microorganisms in the environment. Grow rapidly and compete with our cells for nutrients. • Fungi – organisms like mold and yeast. Absorbs nutrients. • Viruses – proteins and nucleic acid. Take over cell and generate their own genetic instructions.

6. Immune System Structure • Lymph Nodes • Bean-shaped spongy tissue • Largest are in the neck, arm-pit, abdomen, and groan • Filters to capture antigens (foreign material) and has compartments for lymphocytes. • Lymph vessels • Connects to lymph nodes and carries fluid called lymph into the blood stream

7. Immune System Units • Leukocytes • White Blood Cells • Macrophages • Granulocyte • Lymphocytes • Produced by bone marrow • T Cells • B Cells

8. Innate Immunity invariant (generalized) early, limited specificity the first line of defense Also called Nonspecific Barriers Skin Tears Macrophages Granulocytes Mast Cells Adaptive Immunity variable (custom) later, highly specific ‘‘remembers’’ infection Also called Specific T cells – Cell mediated B cells - Humoral TYPES OF IMMUNE RESPONSES

9. Nonspecific Response: Inflammation • Acute inflammation in initiated by a stimulus such as injury or infection. • Inflammatory mediators are produced at the site of the stimulus. CYTOKINES • This increases pain too • Blood vessels dilate and increase permeability • Attract phagocytes to the site of inflammation and activate them. • These cells then eat or destroy invaders

10. Specific Response: T and B Cells

12. Cell-Mediated Immunity • T cells recognize foreign antigens on the surface of cells, organisms, or tissues: • Helper T cells – Present things • Cytotoxic T cells – Kill things • Suppressor T cells – Turn off • T cells regulate proliferation and activity of other cells of the immune system: B cells, macrophages, etc. • Defense against: • Bacteria, fungi and viruses that are inside host cells and are inaccessible to antibodies. • Cancer cells

13. Humoral Immunity • Antibodies are produced by B cells. • B cells are stimulated and actively secrete antibodies These cells are called plasma cells. • Antibodies are found in extracellular fluids (blood plasma, lymph, mucus, etc.) and the surface of B cells. • Defense against bacteria, bacterial toxins, and viruses that circulate freely in body fluids, before they enter cells.

14. Immunological Memory

15. Overview of Immune Response

16. Overview of the Immune Response

17. IMMUNE DISORDERS • IMMUNE DEFICEINCY • HIV/AIDS • CANCER? – IMMUNE SURVEILLENCE THEORY • AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS • ALLERGIES

18. Autoimmune Disorders • Organ-specific • Multiple Sclerosis • Type I Diabetes • Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis • Systemic • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus • Rheumatoid arthritis

19. Gender and Immune Function • Women respond to antigens more strongly than men • Estrogen may affect the development or function of immune cells • May explain why more women develop autoimmune diseases

20. PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY • STRESS • IMMUNE FUNCTION • DISEASE THE STUDY OF HOW THESE INTERACT

21. PNI: From stressor to illness • We differ as to the pattern and frequency of stressors to which we are exposed • These variations determine the magnitude and frequency with which we turn on the stress-response • The magnitude and frequency of the stress response regulate immune competence (e.g., via glucocorticoids) • Level of immune competence determines susceptibility to disease

22. PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY • STRESS IMPAIRS IMMUNE FUNCTION • DIRECT – SYMPATHETIC NS & HORMONES • Cohen et al. (2007) – Being unemployed reduced natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Getting a job recovers function • INDIRECT – LIFESTYLE/COPING • IMPAIRED IMMUNE FUNCTION CAN CAUSE DISEASE

23. Cohen et al. (2007)

24. Direct and Indirect Paths EVENT DISEASE APPRAISAL IMMUNE SUPPRESSION RESPONSE LIFESTYLE

25. STRESS AND DISEASE • HEADACHES • INFECTIONS • CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE • DIABETES • RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

26. THE DISPOSITION FACTOR • DIATHESIS-STRESS MODEL • GENETIC FACTORS • PHYSICAL • PSYCHOLOGICAL • EXPOSURE • DEVELOPMENTAL • PERSONALITY • Hardiness • Optimism

27. Personality Factors: Hardiness • Hardiness • Cluster of stress-buffering traits consisting of commitment, challenge, control • Linked to lower levels of anxiety, adaptive coping styles, and adjustment to cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and many other health problems • Hardy people are more likely to engage in positive reappraisal of stressful events

28. Personality: Optimism and Immune Functioning (Segerstrom et al. 1998) • Examined law students over the course of the first semester of LS. • Took measures (T1 & T2) of dispositional and situational optimism & pessimism • Drew blood at T1 & T2 to measure numerous immune parameters.

29. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER AGENT Germ Tobacco ENVIRONMENT Life Events Hassles Social Support Exposure Risk HOST Diathesis Hardiness Appraisal DISEASE