The change in the amount of immunoglobulins as a response to stress experienced by soldiers on a peacekeeping mission

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated various changes in systemic and mucosal immunity in people undergoing psychological stress. This study was designated for an assay of associations between the stress experienced by Lithuanian soldiers as a response to changed job conditions (deployment to Afghanistan) and level of immunoglobulins. Salivary and sera immunoglobulin concentrations were assessed and compared before and after the military mission; the associations between the deployment-related stress and the immunoglobulin level were examined. Special questionnaires covering state of health and strain experienced were used. Quantitative detection of immunoglobulins was performed by sandwich ELISA. Comparison of the medians at three time points (before, after the deployment and 1year after the mission) showed an increased level of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) in association with deployment. Chi-square test of independence indicated statistically significant relationship between the stress and S-IgA amount. Correlation analysis using different health control methods revealed masked fear of soldiers to be expelled from the military service. The results indicated that salivary S-IgA is the most sensitive representative of mucosal immunity system to psychological stress related to changed job conditions in military service.