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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 1/2010

01-08-2010 | Original Article

Resources, Stress, and Immunity: An Ecological Perspective on Human Psychoneuroimmunology

Author: Suzanne C. Segerstrom, Ph.D.

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Ecological immunology provides a broad theoretical perspective on phenotypic plasticity in immunity, that is, changes related to the value of immunity across different situations, including stressful situations. Costs of a maximally efficient immune response may at times outweigh benefits, and some aspects of immunity may be adaptively suppressed. This review provides a basic overview of the tenets of ecological immunology and the energetic costs of immunity and relates them to the literature on stress and immunity. Sickness behavior preserves energy for use by the immune system, acute stress mobilizes “first-line” immune defenders while suppressing more costly responses, and chronic stress may suppress costly responses in order to conserve energy to counteract the resource loss associated with stress. Unexpected relationships between stress “buffers” and immune functions demonstrate phenotypic plasticity related to resource pursuit or preservation. In conclusion, ecological models may aid in understanding the relationship between stress and immunity.
Footnotes
1
I will use the term “energy” to stand in for these physiological resources so as to avoid confusion with the psychosocial resources that are the focus of the latter half of this review. However, it should be understood that this is a broad use of the term that could encompass not only physiological resources that are literally understood as energy (e.g., glucose, fatty acids) but also other proposed mediators such as proteins that act as transporters for these forms of physiological fuel (e.g., apolipophorin III; [89]).
 
2
Also known as the adaptive branch of the immune system. The term “acquired” is used here to avoid confusion with the term “adaptive” as implied by evolutionary theory, that is, increasing fitness.
 
3
The increases in longevity associated with long-term caloric restriction do not appear to be mediated by improved immunity; in fact, caloric restriction is associated with poorer immunity. Instead, increased expression of tumor suppressor genes points to decreased rates of cancer as the major mechanism by which caloric restriction increases longevity. Increased expression of genes protective against oxidative stress may also play a role in the decreased rates of neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular disease observed with caloric restriction [20].
 
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Metadata
Title
Resources, Stress, and Immunity: An Ecological Perspective on Human Psychoneuroimmunology
Author
Suzanne C. Segerstrom, Ph.D.
Publication date
01-08-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 1/2010
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9195-3

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