STRESS AND THE IMMUNE RESPONSE

Requirement

Stress and the Immune Response Assignment

Solution

STRESS AND THE IMMUNE RESPONSE

1. Observation and generalization
The first part i.e., introduction of assignment addresses the generalized background of the topic. It states that about the role and regulation of immune cells under normal conditions. The antigen or pathogen if any enters into body is going to be destroyed via inflammatory mediators. The consequences could be vasodilatation and enhancing vascular permeability leading to an increase the blood flow at the injured region to mitigate the adverse reactions by phagocytosis. Examples are cited to show the immune response. Most content is related to the immune responses rather stress.

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2. Formulation of hypothesis
The hypothesis behind in the said topic is shown as a part in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the complement system and remaining part in ‘inflammatory response and the brain’. However the hypothesis is not clearly demonstrated in the respective sections. A marginal description is provided in the sections based on available information. The evidences comprise of an increase in the activity of complement pathway, immune modulators (IL-1b, Il-6) and involvement of alternative pathways leading to signaling the phagocytosis stimulation and other immunization reaction. The assumptions of stress is related to the alterations of this pathway can contribute for the diseases (schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s diseases, Hovhannisyan, 2010). Another assumption is that there exists an interconnection between immune system and inflammation processes. The utilization of energy for immune response made the individual to reduce their behavior leading to disruption of hippocampus activity. In addition, the adaptation of defense against the pathogens increases the activity of CNS for the redirection of the organism’s resources. These are the hypotheses behind the immune response

3. Did your hypothesis contain information that can be accepted as the absolute truth? If not, what information was missing? (HINT: Think back to the studies about cortisol and PTSD.) Based on the information that was missing from your hypothesis, what could you test in order to obtain more information on the unknown piece?
No, the hypothesis pertaining to the details have to be improved substantially. The details are superficially provided and a deep emphasis should have been provided. For instance, the role of stress contributing hormones and their influence by immune modulators is missing. The stress is thought to contribute to both initiation and relapse with the use or presence of external modulators (Ranabir & Reetu, 2011), certain neuronal and hormonal responses. The hormone, cortisol is thought to release and increase from the pituitary-adrenal axis due to stress. The chronic dysregulation of the hormone could cause a functional impairment leading to the development of ‘psychologically traumatized’ and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Sherin & Nemeroff, 2011). The neuroendocrine hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis influence the expression of PTSD. One of the essential hormones that contribute for the cause of PTSD is cortisol (Van Voorhees et al., 2014). The neuroinflammation because of the inflammatory process releases the neuropeptides such as substance P or other inflammatory mediators leading to the activation of mast cells. The insight of another hypothesis is based on stressful situations that induce corticosterone secretion that in turn reduces the immune reactions via diverse mechanisms (Stier et al., 2009). Both the sections of the assignment describes with varying modes of assumptions. Instead the preceding details have to be covered in hypothesis.

4. Do a bit of research on the technology available today that could facilitate this test. Examples of new technology include brain imaging, blood chemistry and hormone level tests, CAT scans, MRIs, and DNA mapping. What step of the scientific method does this require?
Yes, the available methods can be utilized for the characterization and assessment of contributing factors for the stress and PTSD. Quantitative method is available for the estimation of cortisol and is based on the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric assays (LC-MS/MS) (Turpeinen & Hamalainen, 2013). The PTSD can be diagnosed by a recurrent and intrusive distress of recollections of the event including images utilizing computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, the psychology of individual has to be evaluated. The psychological parameters pertaining to the behavior, cognitive skills and perceptions should be determined. The assessment can be done by a step-by-step method and comprises of identification of signs and symptoms of patient, estimation of blood chemistry for the identification of contributing factors utilizing immunoassay method and chromatographic methods. Stastical methods such as design of experiments can be implemented to perform the experiments in the cause identification. Control experiments can be included to avoid bias and compare the test under consideration for significance.

5. Now that you have some additional information, briefly and in simple terms, describe how you would test the missing information and which step of the scientific method this accomplishes
A systematic procedure is missing in the case therefore, can be implemented for the testing and implementation of scientific method. First, the suspected individual can be subjected for psychological evaluation. The biological samples so collected from the individual can be subjected for the assessment of immune modulators, antigens and pathogenic substances. The biological samples can be tested for microbiological testing. The chemistry of blood and serum for hormones such as cortisol can be determined utilizing chromatographic methods. The radiological images of brain and nervous system can be made using CT scan and MRI scans to identify the defects in the central nervous system. The link in the case provided is missing pertaining to the interpretation of immune modulators and damage of brain tissue. Therefore, the data has to be interpreted with the causes identified from chemical evaluation and images of brain and nervous system. The advanced brain imaging techniques can help in differentiating the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from those with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). A typical image of patient with PTSD disorder is shown in Fig-1. In case of difficulty in identification of disease, hybrid imaging with positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) can be used. The advanced methods can be used to characterize the pituitary region of the brain to distinguish the two conditions. 

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References

  • HovhannisyanLP., et al. (2010). Alterations in the complement cascade in post-traumatic stress disorder. Allergy Asthma ClinImmunol, 6(1), 3.

  • Ranabir, S., & Reetu, K. (2011). Stress and hormones. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 15(1), 18–22. http://doi.org/10.4103/2230-8210.77573

  • Sherin, J. E., & Nemeroff, C. B. (2011). Post-traumatic stress disorder: the neurobiological impact of psychological trauma. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 13(3), 263–278.

  • Stier, K.S., Almasi, B., Gasparini, J., Piault, R., Roulin, A & Jenni, L (2009) Effects of corticosterone on innate and humoral immune functions and oxidative stress in barn owl nestlings. J Exp Biol. 212(13), 2085-91. doi: 10.1242/jeb.024406.

  • Turpeinen, U & Hamalainen, E (2013) Determination of cortisol in serum, saliva and urine. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 27(6), 795-801. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2013.10.008. Epub 2013 Oct 25.

  • Van Voorhees, E. E., Dennis, M. F., Calhoun, P. S., & Beckham, J. C. (2014). Association of DHEA, DHEAS, and cortisol with childhood trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder. International Clinical Psychopharmacology,29(1), 56–62. http://doi.org/10.1097/YIC.0b013e328364ecd1

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