NK cell immunesenescence is increased by psychological but not physical stress in older adults associated with raised cortisol and reduced perforin expression

Citation

Duggal NA, Upton J, Phillips AC, Hampson P & Lord JM (2015) NK cell immunesenescence is increased by psychological but not physical stress in older adults associated with raised cortisol and reduced perforin expression. AGE, 37 (1), Art. No.: 11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-015-9748-2

Abstract
NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) reduces with age and this has been associated previously with increased mortality. The immune response is also modulated by stress, and here, we assessed the effect of the physical stress of hip fracture and the psychological stress of depression on NKCC in an aged immune system. NKCC was assessed in 101 hip fracture patients (81 female) 6 weeks and 6 months after injury and in 50 healthy age-matched controls (28 female). Thirty-eight patients were depressed at 6 weeks post-injury, and NKCC was reduced in patients who developed depression compared with non-depressed hip fracture patients (p = 0.004) or controls (p 

Keywords
NK cell; Stress; Immunesenescence; Cortisol;

Journal
AGE: Volume 37, Issue 1

People

Professor Anna Whittaker

Professor of Behavioural Medicine, Sport