Originally published December 18 2005
Australian research reveals relationship between hormones and stress
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
At the Neurobiology program at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, professor Fabienne Mackay heads research that reveals how hormones, particularly neuropeptide Y, impair the functioning of the immune system.
Garvan Institute scientists have discovered how a hormone, known as neuropeptide Y (NPY), can prevent our immune system functioning properly, paving the way for two new major opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
"Most of us expect to come down with a cold or other illness when we are under pressure, but until now we have mostly had circumstantial evidence for a link between the brain and the immune system", says lead Garvan researcher Associate Professor Fabienne Mackay.
"During periods of stress, nerves release a lot of NPY and it gets into the bloodstream, where it directly impacts on the cells in the immune system that look out for and destroy pathogens (bacteria and viruses) in the body," explains Mackay.
This significant discovery came about through a collaboration between Mackay's immunology group and scientists in the Neurobiology programme at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia.
Absenteeism, around 30% of which can be attributed to own ill health or physical disibility, costs well over $10 billion Australian dollars a year, so now more than ever employers should be thinking about how to reduce stress in the hope that their workforce will be healthier.
When we encounter a pathogen (bacteria and viruses), the immune 'sentry' cells that are on guard duty retain and interrogate the suspects.
Their activation is made possible by NPY.
These cells then return to the lymph nodes, which are found all over the body, with information about the foreign invaders.
In the case of bacteria and viruses, TH1 cells are part of the attack team that is sent out on the 'search and destroy' mission.
Associate Professor Fabienne Mackay is a Principal Research Fellow in the Arthritis and Inflammation Research Program at the Garvan Institute and a Conjoint Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of NSW and University of Sydney.
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