Natural killer cell counts in primary HIV infection predicts disease progression and immune restoration after treatment

This study was designed to test whether a single 50-mg dose of the opioid antagonist naltrexone hydrochloride, ingested 60 min before 2 h of moderate-intensity exercise (i.e., 65% peak O2consumption), influenced the exercise-induced augmentation of peripheral blood natural killer cell cytolytic activity (NKCA). Ten healthy male subjects were tested on four occasions separated by intervals of at least 14 days. A rested-state control trial was followed by three double-blind exercise trials [placebo (P), naltrexone (N), and indomethacin] arranged according to a random block design. The indomethacin exercise trial is discussed elsewhere (S. G. Rhind, G. A. Gannon, P. N. Shek, and R. J. Shepherd. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 30: S20, 1998). For both the P and N trials, plasma levels of β-endorphin were increased ( P < 0.05) at 90 and 120 min of exercise but returned to resting (preexercise) levels 2 h postexercise. CD3−CD16+CD56+NK cell counts and NKCA were significantly ( P < 0.05) elevated at each 30-min interval of exercise compared with correspondingly timed resting control values. However, there were no differences in NK cell counts or NKCA between P and N trials at any time point during the two trials. Changes in NKCA reflected mainly changes in NK cell count ( r = 0.72; P < 0.001). The results do not support the hypothesis that the enhancement of NKCA during prolonged submaximal aerobic exercise is mediated by β-endorphin.

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Association of Anger Expression-Out with NK Cell Counts in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Acta Médica Portuguesa ◽

10.20344/amp.9573 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 152

Author(s):

Estela Kakoo-Brioso ◽

Luís Costa ◽

Sílvia Ouakinin

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Natural Killer Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Natural Killer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Psychological Factors ◽

Killer Cell ◽

Anger Expression ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Colorectal Cancer Patients

Introduction: There is growing evidence describing the relation between psychological factors and the progression of colorectal cancer. Several mechanisms have been proposed but the one showing more promising evidence relies on the modulation of the antitumoral immune response by psychological factors, particularly through natural killer cells. We aimed to study the relation between natural killer cell count and anxiety, depression and anger state, trait and expression in 54 pre-surgical colorectal cancer patients.Material and Methods: We measured peripheral blood natural killer cell count and applied the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to 54 pre-surgical colorectal cancer patients. We used the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test when appropriate to compare independent groups.Results: Patients with higher Anger Expression-Out had lower natural killer cell numbers than patients with lower Anger Expression-Out (p value = 0.008). No relation was found between natural killer cell levels and Anger State, Anger Trait, or Anger Expression-In. No difference in natural killer cell count was found between patients with and without clinical anxiety or depression.Discussion: These results suggest that, in colorectal cancer patients, natural killer cell counts are influenced by Anger Expression-Out, but not by clinical anxiety or depression.Conclusion: The unregulated emotional expression might be a conditioning factor of innate immunity. Additional studies are needed to further investigate this relation and to ascertain the clinical impact of therapeutic interventions regarding emotional regulation on the anti-tumoral immune response.

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