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Brain Functions Modulating Redistribution of Natural Killer Cells Accompanying Cognitive Appraisal of Acute Stress

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Abstract

Acute stress increases the number of natural killer (NK) cells, which plays a critical role in innate immunity, in peripheral circulation within several minutes. This phenomenon is called redistribution of NK cells and has been thought to reflect facilitation of preventive defense. Redistribution of NK cells is not a stereotyped response but is sensitive to cognitive appraisals of stressors, and thus might be under control by the brain. We have explored neural mechanisms of the top-down modulation of NK cell distribution by the brain using simultaneous measurement of brain activity by positron emission tomography and the number of NK cells in blood during cognitive acute stress tasks where stressor controllability and cognitive flexibility were manipulated. Results suggested that the dorsolateral prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices might be involved in appraisals of stressors, and modulate NK cell redistribution via the anterior cingulate cortex and the vagus nerve.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan

    Hideki Ohira

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  1. Hideki Ohira
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Correspondence to Hideki Ohira .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, University Avenue West 200, Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada

    Peter A. Hall

Highlights

Highlights

  • Natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral circulation rapidly increase (redistribution) in acute stress and can facilitate preventive defense.

  • NK cell redistribution can be modulated based on cognitive appraisals of stressors, reflecting flexible adaptation to the stressors.

  • The prefrontal cortex of the brain is involved in appraisals of stressors and in top-down modulation of NK cell redistribution via the vagus nerve.

  • Functional connection of the brain and immunity should be critical for facilitation of health and prevention of diseases.

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Ohira, H. (2013). Brain Functions Modulating Redistribution of Natural Killer Cells Accompanying Cognitive Appraisal of Acute Stress. In: Hall, P. (eds) Social Neuroscience and Public Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6852-3_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6852-3_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6851-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6852-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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