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Psychoneuroendocrine interventions aimed at attenuating immunosenescence: a review

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Abstract

There is evidence suggesting that immunosenescence can be accelerated by external factors such as chronic stress. Here we review potential psychoneuroendocrine determinants of premature aging of the immune system and discuss available interventions aimed at attenuating immunosenescence. Chronic stress may accelerate various features of immunosenescence by activating key allostatic systems, notably the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. The immunological impact of such neuroendocrine dysregulation may be further amplified by a dramatic decline in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels, acting in part as an endogenous glucocorticoid antagonist. Stress-buffering strategies show beneficial effects on various biomarkers in elderly populations. Likewise, supplementation of DHEA, melatonin or growth hormone has yielded significant beneficial effects in a number of studies, including: increased well-being, memory performance, bone mineral density and improved immunocompetence as evidenced by results of in vitro (T cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, cytokine production), and in vivo immune challenges. However, the side-effects of hormonal supplementation are also discussed. Finally, moderate exercise via the promotion of cortisol/DHEA balance or epigenetic modifications, is associated with lower serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, greater lymphoproliferative responses and lower counts of senescent T cells. Taken together, these data suggest that immune system is plastic and immunosenescence can be attenuated psychoneuroendocrine interventions.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from CAPES and CNPq (#470747/2006-4 and #305155/2006-7).

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  1. Laboratory of Immunosenescence, Faculty of Biosciences, Institute of Biomedical Research, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), P.O. Box 1429, Porto Alegre, RS, 90610-000, Brazil

    Moisés E. Bauer, Guilherme C. Muller & Bruna Luz Correa

  2. Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Guilherme C. Muller

  3. Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Priscila Vianna

  4. School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

    James E. Turner

  5. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

    Jos A. Bosch

Authors
  1. Moisés E. Bauer
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  2. Guilherme C. Muller
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  3. Bruna Luz Correa
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  4. Priscila Vianna
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  5. James E. Turner
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  6. Jos A. Bosch
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Correspondence to Moisés E. Bauer.

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Bauer, M.E., Muller, G.C., Correa, B.L. et al. Psychoneuroendocrine interventions aimed at attenuating immunosenescence: a review. Biogerontology 14, 9–20 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-012-9412-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-012-9412-5

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