UCL researchers are looking into whether short-lived stress can have a beneficial effect on people’s susceptibility to infections.
In the trial, which is currently recruiting, researchers from UCL’s Division of Infection and Immunity give participants aged 18-40 a maths test to induce stress. Participants have their blood pressure and a blood sample taken before the test, during the test and after 15 minutes of recovery.
Dr Natalie Riddell, one of the researchers, said: “Psychological stress can alter the ability of our immune system to protect us from infections and cancers. Using a simple, mildly arousing maths test can mimic everyday stressors to test what the effects of such stress may be on immune function in humans.”
The immune system is a collection of billions of cells, defending the body against foreign bodies (antigens), such as bacteria, viruses and cancerous cells. The main types of immune cells are white blood cells. There are two types of white blood cells – lymphocytes and phagocytes. When we are chronically stressed, the immune system’s ability to fight off antigens is reduced. Therefore, we are more susceptible to infections.
Unlike chronic stress which has been shown to reduce the ability to fight off antigens, researchers think acute stressors lasting only minutes or hours may have beneficial effects on immune function. Dr Riddell said: “Acute stress is short-lived, from 10 minutes to an hour. In this time lymphocytes move into our peripheral blood ready to kill invading organisms that would cause disease and recognise harmful substances and help defend against them”.
These benefits may be lost in old age however. The team also want to investigate if our immune cells are still as protective as we get older, so they will also study a group of participants aged 65 and over using the same maths test and blood and blood pressure tests.
Dr Riddell said: “Understanding how the nervous and immune system interact may lead to novel ways to prevent unwanted immune changes induced by stress and promote beneficial ones”.
