Early Life Stress Research
in the Mind-Body Program

Numerous studies have indicated that interactions between the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune system play an important role in the maintenance of homeostasis and the development of immunologic diseases including infectious diseases, cancer and autoimmune disorders. One of the most well established findings in the area of CNS-immune interactions is the profound impact of acute and chronic stress on the immune response. Relevant pathways mediating these effects of stress on the immune system include the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).

Given that HPA axis and SNS outflow pathways during stress are regulated by corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), a number of studies have focused on the impact of CRF on the immune system. Interestingly, in addition to causing suppression of both cell-mediated and humoral immune function, CRF has been found to induce the release of several cytokines including IL (interleukin)-1 and IL-6. These cytokines in turn have been shown to stimulate CRF production/release and mediate a host of behavioral responses that include “sickness behavior” with features that overlap with major depression.

Early life stress in humans and laboratory animals has been shown to augment CRF activity with evidence that CRF pathways are sensitized to subsequent stressor exposure in adulthood. Given the impact of CRF on the immune system and the potential impact of the immune system on the CNS and CRF, examination of the potential consequences and contributions of CRF-immune interactions to physical and emotional health in individuals exposed to early life stress is a consideration of paramount importance.

The long term objectives of these studies are to further understand 1) how early life stress impacts upon the adult immune system, 2) whether CRF is the major mediator of the observed effects and 3) whether proinflammatory cytokines contribute to the neurobiologic and immunologic features of early life stress.

The hypotheses are that 1) early life stress will enhance stress-induced activation of proinflammatory cytokines and their signaling pathways, including NFkB and MAP kinase, 2) increased activation of proinflammatory signaling pathways secondary to early life stress will be mediated by CRF and its effects on the HPA axis and/or SNS, and 3) activation of proinflammatory signaling pathways by IL-1 and IL-6 will contribute to the neuroendocrine, behavioral and immunologic manifestations of early life stress.

Taken together, these studies will provide new insights into the pathophysiology of early life stress and provide a foundation for the development of novel treatment strategies for the neurobiologic and immunologic consequences of early life stress.

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