How well people perform in everyday situations is often determined by memory function. When required to perform under stress memory performance is often affected. The effect of a psychological stress test on memory function in healthy volunteers and the ability of a dietary supplement, tyrosine, to prevent the effects will be studied. The data may suggest that depletion amino acids is responsible for the decrements in performance that are evident after an acute stressor.
I have discovered particular factors produced by our white blood cells have the ability to shut down or boost protein production in the gut, pancreas and lung. My vision is to harness these to devise new strategies for treatments for infectious and non-infectious diseases (inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes) that have a high burden on our healthcare system.
Central Control Of Stress-induced Changes In Immune Function.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$411,724.00
Summary
LONG-TERM STRESS CAN ALTER OUR BRAIN'S ATTEMPTS TO FIGHT INFECTION Long-term stress is often blamed for causing illness but precisely how this occurs is now only beginning to be realised. It is especially disturbing that long-term stress can increase one's susceptibility to infections. Stress can alter the way our brain can help deal with assaults by bacteria and viruses. Normally, at the start of an infection, we release a hormone called cortisol from our adrenal glands. A low level of cortisol ....LONG-TERM STRESS CAN ALTER OUR BRAIN'S ATTEMPTS TO FIGHT INFECTION Long-term stress is often blamed for causing illness but precisely how this occurs is now only beginning to be realised. It is especially disturbing that long-term stress can increase one's susceptibility to infections. Stress can alter the way our brain can help deal with assaults by bacteria and viruses. Normally, at the start of an infection, we release a hormone called cortisol from our adrenal glands. A low level of cortisol in our body is beneficial because it can prevent the infection from taking hold in our body and spreading. However if we are chronically stressed our brains tell the adrenal glands to secrete excessive amounts of cortisol over long periods of time and this imbalance can actually hinder the ability of one's immune system to fight an infection. The unfortunate consequence is that the infection is more likely to win the battle and spread to cause further havoc. The present study will identify which areas of the brain are important in driving the secretion of cortisol during infection and how long-term stress can influence those areas. Because we might be exposed to long-term psychological stress that is repeated regularly or irregularly we will determine which pattern of stress has the greatest effect. An investigation into how the brain operates during long-term stress and infection will help us develop ways to prevent stress from disrupting our immune systems.Read moreRead less
This project will examine new ways in which the major effector cells of allergic inflammation and asthma are regulated by novel S100 protein mediators. We find two natural proteins of the innate immune system, present in cells in the lungs of patients with acute asthma. These have apparently opposing activates: one, S100A12, activates mast cells to release mediators that trigger asthma attack. We will characterise how this proteins is regulated in eosinophils, key cells in asthma. Because mast c ....This project will examine new ways in which the major effector cells of allergic inflammation and asthma are regulated by novel S100 protein mediators. We find two natural proteins of the innate immune system, present in cells in the lungs of patients with acute asthma. These have apparently opposing activates: one, S100A12, activates mast cells to release mediators that trigger asthma attack. We will characterise how this proteins is regulated in eosinophils, key cells in asthma. Because mast cells reside in almost all body tissues and are also important mediators of host responses to allergy, infection and in chronic inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, our studies may indicate novel and unexpected ways in which they are activated. A second S100 protein (S100A8) is an efficient scavenger of oxidants that can cause damage to the lung. We find both S100A12 and S100A8 that has been modified by oxidants, in sputum from pateints with asthma. In addition to its anti-oxidant effects, S100A8 can downregulate production of some of the inflammatory mediators that promote allergy and asthma. This is an important finding that will help us understand how drugs used in treatment, such as steroids, are acting. We will generate a mouse expressing this protein in its lungs and determine how this affects normal lungs and the course of asthma. If, as we expect, asthma is reduced, we will have found a novel new pathway that is important in the resolution of asthma. Results from this project will provide new knowledge concerning mechanisms of regulation in allergy and asthma and may lead to the design of novel strategies to regulate the process. Results will have broader ramifications applicable to other chronc inflammatory where these proteins are expressed. We have new reagents that could also assist in the diagnosis of these conditions and may be useful for monitoring treatment.Read moreRead less
Chronic or extreme reactions to stress can lead to pathological conditions such as long term anxiety states, depression and panic disorders. Stress related disease also contributes to other major health problems such as heart disease and disorders of the immune system. These disease states include some of the major medical problems of our times. This proposal is to define genes which may be involved in stress responsiveness, to further understand and treat stress related disease.
THE EFFECT OF STRESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT ON DISEASE PROGRESSION IN MESIAL TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,201.00
Summary
Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common form of drug-resistant epilepsy in adults, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition for which there is currently no effective disease modifying treatment. This proposal will explore whether co-morbid stress accelerates disease progression in MTLE, and whether targeting stress pathways by medical and environmental manipulations can mitigate against this.