Abstract
The mobilization of cytotoxic lymphocytes, such Natural Killer (NK) cells and CD8(+) T cells, during stress and exercise is well documented in humans. However, humans have another cytotoxic lymphocyte subset that has not been studied in this context: the Gamma Delta (gammadelta) T lymphocyte. These cells play key roles in immune processes including the elimination of bacterial infection, wound repair and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. The current study investigated the effects of stress, exercise, and beta-agonist infusion on the mobilization of gammadelta T lymphocytes. Three separate studies compared lymphocytosis in response to an acute speech stress task (n=29), high (85%W(max)) and low (35%W(max)) intensity concentric exercise (n=11), and isoproterenol infusion at 20 and 40 ng/kg/min (n=12). Flow cytometric analysis was used to examine lymphocyte subsets. gammadelta T lymphocytes were mobilized in response to all three tasks in a dose-dependent manner; the extent of mobilization during the speech task correlated with concomitant cardiac activation, and was greater during higher intensity exercise and increased dose of beta-agonist infusion. The mobilization of gammadelta T lymphocytes was greater (in terms of % change from baseline) than that of CD8(+) T lymphocytes and less than NK cells. This study is the first to demonstrate that gammadelta T cells are stress-responsive lymphocytes which are mobilized during psychological stress, exercise, and beta-agonist infusion. The mobilization of these versatile cytotoxic cells may provide protection in the context of situations in which antigen exposure is more likely to occur.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 823-9 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Brain, behavior, and immunity |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2009 |
Keywords
- Adrenergic beta-Agonists/administration & dosage
- Carbon Dioxide/blood
- Cell Count
- Exercise/physiology
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Heart Rate/drug effects
- Hemodynamics/physiology
- Humans
- Infusions, Intravenous
- Isoproterenol/administration & dosage
- Lymphocyte Subsets/drug effects
- Male
- Oxygen Consumption/drug effects
- Oxygen/blood
- Social Environment
- Stress, Psychological/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/drug effects
- Young Adult