Social stress alters the severity and onset of the chronic phase of Theiler's virus infection

J Neuroimmunol. 2006 Jun;175(1-2):39-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2006.02.014. Epub 2006 Apr 21.

Abstract

Social stress alters the acute phase of Theiler's virus infection (TMEV), a model of multiple sclerosis. Stress applied prior to infection had deleterious disease outcomes, while stress applied concurrent with infection was protective. The current study examined multiple behavioral (motor impairment, open field activity) and immunological measures (IL-6, antibodies to virus and myelin proteins) in both the acute and chronic phases of TMEV. It was found that stress applied prior to infection exacerbated disease outcomes, while concurrent application was protective in both disease phases.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Cardiovirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Cardiovirus Infections / immunology
  • Cardiovirus Infections / psychology*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnosis
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / psychology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / virology
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Social Behavior*
  • Stress, Psychological / diagnosis*
  • Stress, Psychological / immunology
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology
  • Stress, Psychological / virology
  • Theilovirus* / immunology