Behavioral conditioning of immunosuppression is possible in humans

• DOI: 10.1096/fj.02-0389com
• Publication Date: 2002-12-05T17:43:29Z
• Authors: Marion U. Goebel; Almuth E. Trebst; Jan Steiner; Yu F. Xie; Michael S. Exton; Stilla Frede; Ali E. Canbay; Martin C. Michel; Uwe Heemann; Manfred Schedlowski
• Keywords: Immunosuppression; Stimulus (psychology)

Behavioral conditioned immunosuppression has been described in rodents as the most impressive demonstration of brain-to-immune system interaction. To analyze whether behavioral is possible humans, healthy subjects this double-blind, placebo-controlled study were four sessions over 3 consecutive days, receiving immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A an unconditioned stimulus paired with a distinctively flavored drink (conditioned stimulus) each 12 h. In next week, re-exposure to (drink), but now placebo capsules, induced suppression immune functions analyzed by IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression, intracellular production, vitro release IFN-gamma, well lymphocyte proliferation. These data demonstrate for first time that can be behaviorally humans.