Dr. Adams
07-05-2008, 11:52 AM
"Acute stress increases complement cascade activation in healthy individuals, suggesting a mechanism by which stress could exacerbate inflammatory conditions.
People often report flare-ups in inflammatory conditions during times of stress, but the mechanisms are not well understood. Stress-induced increases in complement cascade activation provide a plausible mechanism through which psychological stress could increase symptoms.
There was no correlation between cardiovascular reactivity during the experiments and complement cascade activation, and the method of blood collection had no effect on the degree of activation.
Given the complexity of how complement cascade activation is held in check in healthy individuals, small changes in these interacting mechanisms of stimulation and inhibition can lead to dramatic perturbations in complement cascade activity in the clinic and, as such, provide a possible mechanism through which a relatively minor stress-induced change in a regulatory process could lead to the substantial complement cascade activation observed.
Future research should assess whether patients with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions are more susceptible to complement cascade activation after psychological stress."
Psychosom Med 2008;70:387-396.
People often report flare-ups in inflammatory conditions during times of stress, but the mechanisms are not well understood. Stress-induced increases in complement cascade activation provide a plausible mechanism through which psychological stress could increase symptoms.
There was no correlation between cardiovascular reactivity during the experiments and complement cascade activation, and the method of blood collection had no effect on the degree of activation.
Given the complexity of how complement cascade activation is held in check in healthy individuals, small changes in these interacting mechanisms of stimulation and inhibition can lead to dramatic perturbations in complement cascade activity in the clinic and, as such, provide a possible mechanism through which a relatively minor stress-induced change in a regulatory process could lead to the substantial complement cascade activation observed.
Future research should assess whether patients with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions are more susceptible to complement cascade activation after psychological stress."
Psychosom Med 2008;70:387-396.