Cited by 219Stress Responses and CortisolNeuropeptides and Animal PhysiologyTryptophan and brain disorders

Neuropeptide Y and natural killer cell activity: findings in depression and Alzheimer caregiver stress

Irwin, Michael, Brown, Marvin, Patterson, Thomas, Hauger, Richard, Mascovich, Anne, Grant, Igor·1991·The FASEB Journal

Abstract

A reduction in immune function has been found in patients with a major depressive disorder and in persons undergoing severe life stress. This study investigated the association between increased sympathetic nervous system activity and reduced natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity in depression and Alzheimer caregiver stress. NK activity and plasma concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and neuropeptide Y were measured in depressed patients (n = 19) and age- and gender-matched controls (n = 19), and in Alzheimer spousal caregivers (n = 48) and matched noncaregiver controls (n = 17). Plasma levels of neuropeptide Y, but not circulating basal levels of catecholamines, were significantly (P less than 0.01) elevated in the depressed patients and in the caregivers compared with respective controls. NK activity was significantly (P less than 0.001) lower in the depressed patients than in their controls, but not different between the caregivers and the noncaregiver controls. Circulating concentrations of neuropeptide Y, but not catecholamines, were inversely correlated (r = -0.31, P less than 0.001) with NK activity. In addition, multiple regression analyses demonstrated that the significant (P less than 0.01) association between neuropeptide Y and natural cytotoxicity was independent of the relative contribution of age and basal and dynamic levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine. These findings suggest that increased sympathetic nervous system activity and the release of neurop…

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Crossref · 10.1096/fasebj.5.15.1743441

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  • SNS outflow in depression may suppress transcription of antiviral immune response genes, leading to increased susceptibility to viruses.

    “the SNS outflow that occurs in depression (see Irwin et al., 1991) may suppress transcription of antiviral immune response genes (S. W. Cole et al., 1998; Lee et al., 2000), leading to increased susceptibility to viruses”

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Authors
Irwin, M., Brown, M., Patterson, T., Hauger, R., Mascovich, A., & Grant, I.
Affiliations
  • Veterans Health Administration (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Departments of Psychiatry University of California San Diego
Corresponding author
Irwin, Michael
Venue
The FASEB Journal
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1991-12
Volume
5
Issue
15
Pages
3100-3107
ISSN
  • 0892-6638 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-6860
OpenAlex
W1500806673
Cited by
219
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
FWCI
3.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The FASEB Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Public Health Service (M 44275-02)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH30914)
  • National Center for Research Resources (MO1 RR00827, M01RR000827)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
neuropeptide Y, natural killer cells, NK cell cytotoxicity, depression, Alzheimer's disease, caregiver stress, spousal caregivers, sympathetic activity, epinephrine, norepinephrine, catecholamines, immune function, life events
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Cytotoxicity, Immunologic, Depression, Epinephrine, Evaluation Studies as Topic, Female, Humans, Killer Cells, Natural, Male, Neuropeptide Y, Norepinephrine, Stress, Physiological, Sympathetic Nervous System, Case-Control Studies, Caregivers

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