Abstract

Immune Deregulation Caused by Stress: Implications for Cancer, Infectious Disease, and Wound Healing

The nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are connected through a complex network of bidirectional signals, allowing for communication between them. The field of Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) has shed new light on the pathophysiological processes related to the immune system. Research in PNI has shown that psychological stress disrupts the functional interaction between the nervous and immune systems, resulting in immune dysregulation. This stress-induced immune dysregulation can have significant health consequences, including reduced immune response to vaccines, slower wound healing, reactivation of latent herpesviruses like Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), and an increased risk for severe infectious diseases. Chronic stress and depression can increase the production of proinflammatory Cytokines like Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the peripheral system. High levels of IL-6 in the serum have been linked to several conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, mental health disorders, and certain cancers. In summary, this article will examine the evidence suggesting that psychological stress can promote immune dysfunction that hurts human health.

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