Positive Coping Up- and Down-Regulates in vitro Cytokine Productions from T Cells Dependent on Stress Levels

Abstract

Background: Specific coping styles have been shown to modulate stress-induced immune alterations and influence actual health outcomes. This study examined the effects of stressors and coping styles on human T-cell subpopulations and in vitro cytokine production using a cross-sectional design. Methods: Seventy-one men (18–60 years old) were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire that evaluates quantitative workload, mental demand and coping styles. The numbers of T-cell subpopulations and concentrations of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) after stimulation with phytohemaglutinin were measured. Results: Positive and negative coping were negatively related to IL-4 and the number of CD4+ cells, respectively. Interactions between positive coping and mental demand significantly affected the number of CD8+ cells, IFN-γ, IL-4 and the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio. Among men reporting high mental demand, positive coping was related to increased IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4. Among men reporting low mental demand, positive coping was related to a decreased number of CD8+ cells and lower concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4. Analyses adjusting for the numbers of CD3+ and CD8+ cells revealed that the interactive effects of positive coping and mental demand on cytokine levels were attributable to the changes in T-cell function rather than the number of T cells. No modulating effect of anxiety on the associations of stressors and coping with immune function was observed. Depressive symptoms slightly, though not significantly, modulated the association of negative coping and the number of CD4+ cells. Conclusions: From the perspective of immunology, optimal stress characteristics were determined by an individual’s coping styles, with positive coping being associated with stress-induced changes in the number of CD8+ cells and in vitro cytokine production from T cells. Our findings suggest that it is important to consider the interactive effects of the complexity of work and the individual coping style in stress management.