Steven J. Schleifer

Suppression of lymphocyte stimulation by anterior hypothalamic lesions in the guinea pig.

Abstract Anterior hypothalamic lesions in the guinea pig inhibited lymphocyte stimulation in whole blood cultures with the antigen tuberculin and with the mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and suppressed the delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity response to tuberculin. The lesions did not affect the stimulation of purified lymphocytes with either tuberculin or PHA. The anterior hypothalamic lesions had no effect on the absolute number of T and B lymphocytes.

Stress-Induced Changes in Immune Function in Animals: Hypothalamo–Pituitary–Adrenal Influences

This chapter discusses stress-induced changes in immune function in animals. Traditional hypotheses assert that stress effects on the immune system are primarily mediated by adrenal mechanisms. Studies of stress effects on mitogen responses and on natural-killer cell activity provide important basic information about the effects of stress on nonspecific lymphoid responses. The consequences of stress effects on immune responses can best be assessed in relation to the development of a specific immune response following antigen challenge. Parametric considerations in such studies are crucial and complicate interpretation of the findings because effects on the immune response depend on the specific sequence and timing of the stressor, antigen exposure, and immune assessment. The complex findings in the various studies concerned with stress effects on in vivo immune response emphasize the need to specify the type and schedule of stress exposure and the specific aspect of immune function assessed.

Digitalis and β-blocking agents: Effects on depression following myocardial infarction

Abstract Depression is frequently seen in patients following myocardial infarction (MI), many of whom are receiving digitalis glycosides, β-blockers, or other agents that may exert central nervous system (CNS) effects. In a prospective study of the clinical significance of post-MI depression, 335 patients were assessed using a standardized diagnostic interview for depression at 8 to 10 days, and 190 were reinterviewed at 3 to 4 months. Patients prescribed digitalis, β-blockers, or other cardioactive medications at hospital discharge were identified. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the contribution of these agents to depression at 3 to 4 months, controlling for medical and sociodemographic factors as well as for baseline depression. Treatment with digitalis predicted depression at 3 to 4 months ( p p > 0.10). Digitalis may have CNS effects that contribute to depression post-MI and this finding should be considered in the differential diagnosis of depression in cardiac patients.

Premature maternal separation and lymphocyte function

Premature separation of rat pups from their mothers, on postnatal Day 15, produced a decreased response of peripheral blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) at 40 days of age. A significant lymphopenia was also found in the early weaned animals at 40 days of age although this was accounted for statistically by their lower body weight. These consequences of early maternal separation may have been mediated through the effects of early separation on nutritional state, hypothalamic function, or maturation of the immune system.

Behavioral and Developmental Aspects of Immunity

Considerable evidence is accumulating which demonstrates a relationship between immune function and behavioral states such as object loss or depression. Findings have been described using animal and clinical models, and a complex chain of biological and psychological processes may be involved. Further research on behavioral, central nervous system, and immune interactions in childhood is needed and is especially important since the developing immune system may be particularly susceptible to behavioral effects. Effects on the immune system in early life may have profound long-term effects on immune capacity.

Analysis of Partial Variance (APV) as a Statistical Approach to Control Day to Day Variation in Immune Assays

The considerable day to day variability in some immunologic assays can obscure relationships among measures of interest and thereby complicate interpretation of findings when effect sizes are modest. Analysis of partial variance (APV) is a technique that utilizes data obtained from controls run in the laboratory on the day of each assay to control for day to day variance statistically. The application of this technique to permit detection of otherwise obscured effects for both larger and smaller samples is exemplified utilizing data from two studies in which subjects were assessed on multiple different dates. These included a study of the association of depression with in vitro immune measures in 296 adolescents and a longitudinal study of 20 spouses of patients admitted to a cardiac intensive care unit studied together with 20 matched controls. APV was most useful in analyses of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation assays, which had considerable day to day variability. In general, multivariate studies with functional immune measures may benefit most from application of this technique.

A simplified method for assessing PHA induced stimulation of rat peripheral blood lymphocytes

Abstract A simple micro-method is described for assaying lymphocyte stimulation in the rat. This method utilizes Percoll as the density gradient, fetal calf serum as the medium supplement and [ 125 I]UdR/FUdR as the label. The technique provides a simple and rapid assay of lymphocyte stimulation of rat peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Stress, Depression and Immunity

Considerable evidence demonstrating a relationship between stress, depression, and immune function is accumulating and a complex chain of biological and psychological processes are involved. An extensive network of central nervous system and endocrine system processes may be involved in the modulation of the immune system in response to stressors.

Bereavement, Depression, and Immunity: The Role of Age

Research scientists in psychiatry, psychology, and immunology have become increasingly interested in the influence of the environment on the immune system. Currently many researchers are investigating the effects of mood states and everyday stress on immune system function. Results of our own work corroborate claims of intriguing connections between emotional distress and immunity. The expected pervasiveness of such effects, however, is best not overstated without corroborating evidence since an assumption that the immune system is susceptible to even minor environmental stressors does not appear to be consistent with an adaptive evolutionary process.

Abstract 25. Immunologie function in major depressive disorders

23. Is there in serum from schizophrenics a specific protein binding to mouse thymocytes? W.J. Turner, P. Gorevic, G. Habicht, M.D. Zarrabi Health Sciences Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook, N.Y., U.S.A. In 1974 Luria and Domashneva reported that on indirect immunofluorescense procedure following incubation of thymocytes with serum at 1:8 and 1:16 dilution there was no fluorescence from controls, but 100% from schizophrenics. Since some thymus receptors are also on neurons this work needs repetition, not only with C3 mice and with strains having related surface antigens, but also by the quantitative methods available by flow fluorocytometry. This report will deal with initial results in over 50 patients, relatives and various control subjects. Abstract 24. Some aspects of immunological studies of schizophrenia G. Kolyaskina, T. Maznina, A. Zozulya All-Union Research Centre of Mental Health of the Academy of Medical Sciences of USSR, Moscow, USSR.24. Some aspects of immunological studies of schizophrenia G. Kolyaskina, T. Maznina, A. Zozulya All-Union Research Centre of Mental Health of the Academy of Medical Sciences of USSR, Moscow, USSR. One of the modern direction in psychoneuroimmunology deals to distribution of Ty and Tn lymphocytes, B-cell hyperactivity and disordered T-cell control in schizophrenic patients. These disturbances may be secondary by its nature and are a consequence of the blood serum factors or psychothropic drugs effect. The other aspect of this problem is connected with a possible participation of apiates in the mechanisms of immune response development. The opiate-like capacity of antibody formation factor and some thymus substances and opiate influence on the proliferative activity of immunocompetent cells will be considered. Abstract 25. Immunologic function in major depressive disorders M. Stein, S. Schleifer, and S. Keller Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.25. Immunologic function in major depressive disorders M. Stein, S. Schleifer, and S. Keller Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, N.Y., U.S.A. A series of studies will be presented reporting immune function in major depressive disorder. We have demonstrated that responses to T cell and T-dependent B cell mitogens as well as the absolute number of lymphocytes and T and B cells were significantly lower in drug free hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder than in apparently healthy matched controls. We also have found that a group of less severely depressed out-patients in mitogen responses but did have a decrease in the number of lymphocytes and that hospitalized schizophrenics and patients admitted for elected herniorraphy did not differ from matched controls on any of the immune measures. These findings suggest that depression is associated with altered immune function and may be related to the severity of the illness. The changes in lymphocyte function in major depressive disorder may be related to the hypercortisolemia associated with depression. The role of corticosteroids and other neurobiological systems which may be associated with altered immunity in depression will also be re-