Environmental Health Perspectives 105, Supplement 2, March 1997 working group report


Psychoneuroimmunology

Nicholas Cohen,1 Howard Kehrl,2 Birgitta Berglund,3 Ann O'Leary,4 Gerald Ross,5 James Seltzer,6 and Clifford Weisel7

1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
3 Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
4 Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey
5 Environmental Health Center-Dallas, Dallas, Texas
6 6 Indoor Hygienic Technologies, San Diego, CA
7 EOHSI, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey

Abstract
This paper develops hypotheses regarding the interactions among stress, immunity, and chemical sensitivities and gives an overview of the questions and hypotheses generated by a working group exploring the application of psychoneuroimmunology to chemical sensitivities. Consideration is given to prospective longitudinal studies designed to find cases among at-risk exposed populations. Relevant immune parameters to be measured longitudinally and in challenge studies for patients with MCS are discussed. Immune system changes in response to the chronic stress of having MCS and as primary responses to chemical exposure also are considered. -- Environ Health Perspect 105(Suppl 2):527-529 (1997)

Key words: immunology, multiple chemical sensitivities, stress, psychoneuroimmunology, inflammatory response

This paper is based on a work group discussion at the Conference on Experimental Approaches to Chemical Sensitivity held 20-22 September 1995 in Princeton, New Jersey. Manuscript received at EHP 12 August 1996; manuscript accepted 27 November 1996.
Address correspondence to Dr. N. Cohen, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, P.O. Box 672, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642. Telephone: (716) 275-3402. Fax: (716) 473-9573. E-mail: ncohn@medinfo.rochester.edu
Abbreviations used: MCS, multiple chemical sensitivity; NK, natural killer; VOC, volatile organic compounds.

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Last Update: March 25, 1997