Stress Hormone Cortisol and Immune Suppression
When an individual experiences stress, the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is activated. This leads to the release of hormones, most notably cortisol, from the adrenal glands.
Cortisol's Impact on Immune Cells
Elevated levels of cortisol, particularly during chronic stress, play a significant role in modulating the immune system. The key effects include:
- Cortisol acts as an immunosuppressant.
- It can trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death) in lymphocytes, including crucial T cells.
- A decrease in T cells weakens the body's cell-mediated immunity, making it more vulnerable to infections.
Evaluation of Other Options
The other options present less accurate explanations:
- Option 1 is incorrect because while stress can increase blood pressure, this is not the primary mechanism by which the immune system is weakened.
- Option 2 is inaccurate; increased glucose primarily provides energy and does not directly neutralize WBCs in the manner described.
- Option 3 is partially related, as ACTH stimulates cortisol release, but ACTH itself does not directly destroy T cells; cortisol does.
Important Questions from Immune System
Consider the following statements -
1. This type of Immunoglobulin is a type of antibody representing approximately 75% of serum antibodies in humans.
2. It is present in most abundant quantity in the blood circulation
Which type of immunoglobulin is being talked about?
Allergy and anaphylaxis are due to -
Cells that release histamine and other vasoactive substances in response to allergens are -
Which is not a part of lymphatic system?
Bacterial infections are generally divided into two broad classes: intracellular and extracellular bacterial infections. Given below are some of the properties which are applicable for bacterial infections.
A. Humoral immune response is the main protective response against extracellular bacteria.
B. Innate immunity is not effective against intracellular bacterial pathogens.
C. Bacterial endotoxins do not induce an innate immune response.
D. Intracellular bacterial infections generally induce a cell-mediated immune response resulting in secretion of cytokines which activate macrophages.
Which one of the following combination of statements is correct?
