4.7 Article

Neutrophil function and cortisol:DHEAS ratio in bereaved older adults

期刊

BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
卷 25, 期 6, 页码 1182-1186

出版社

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2011.03.008

关键词

Bereavement; Neutrophil; Phagocytosis; Superoxide production

资金

  1. Dunhill Medical Trust
  2. European Commission [PITN-GA-2009-238665]
  3. Economic and Social Research Council [ES/H043772/1] Funding Source: researchfish
  4. Medical Research Council [G9818340B, G1001390] Funding Source: researchfish
  5. ESRC [ES/H043772/1] Funding Source: UKRI
  6. MRC [G1001390] Funding Source: UKRI

向作者/读者索取更多资源

Bereavement is a common life event for older adults and is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, though the underlying reasons for this link are poorly understood. Although physical and emotional stressors and ageing are known to suppress immunity, few studies have explored the impact of bereavement upon immunity in the older population. We therefore hypothesised that the emotional stress of bereavement would suppress immune function, specifically neutrophil bactericidal activity, in older adults. A between-subjects design was used to examine the effect of recent bereavement (<2 months) on neutrophil function in elders. Participants were 24 bereaved and 24 age- and sex-matched non-bereaved controls all aged 65+ years. Neutrophil phagocytosis of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and stimulated superoxide production were assessed. Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) levels were determined in serum to assess potential mechanisms. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured by questionnaire. Neutrophil superoxide production was significantly reduced among the bereaved when challenged with E. coli (p = 0.05), or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (p = 0.009). Further, the bereaved group had a significantly higher cortisol:DHEAS ratio compared to controls (p = 0.03). There was no difference in neutrophil phagocytosis between the two groups. The psychological questionnaire results showed that the bereaved had significantly greater depressive and anxiety symptoms than the non-bereaved. The emotional stress of bereavement is associated with suppressed neutrophil superoxide production and with a raised cortisol:DHEAS ratio. The stress of bereavement exaggerates the age-related decline in HPA axis and combines with immune ageing to further suppress immune function, which may help to the explain increased risk of infection in bereaved older adults. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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