Lymphocyte subset redistribution during acute laboratory stress in young adults: Mediating effects of hemoconcentration

Acute psychological stress is known to alter the distribution of circulating lymphocyte subsets and also to cause a reduction of plasma volume. Data were reanalyzed from 4 previously reported studies (E. A. Bachen et al., 1995; T. B. Herbert et al., 1994; A. L. Marsland, S. B. Manuck, T. V. Fazzari, C. J. Stewart, & B. S. Rabin, 1995; A. L. Marsland, S. B. Manuck, P. Wood, et al., 1995) to determine the extent to which changes in the concentration of lymphocyte subsets are attributable to such hemoconcentration. Meta-analytic procedures showed circulating concentrations of T-suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8) and natural killer (NK) cells to increase following acute laboratory challenge, whereas T-helper (CD4) and B- (CD19) cell populations did not change. Adjustments for concomitant hemoconcentration reduced the magnitude of stress-related increases in CD8 and NK cells significantly and revealed a decrease in CD4 and CD19 cell concentrations from baseline to stress measurements. These data provide evidence (a) that increases in circulating numbers of CD8 and NK cells following acute stress are partially attributable to hemoconcentration and (b) that CD4 and CD19 cell concentrations decrease during acute stress when hemoconcentration is taken into account.