Stress-induced cytokine changes may be the link between stress and the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders such as depression, and organic diseases such as infections, autoimmune diseases and cancer. We tested the effect of stress on interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-22, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ serum levels in male Wistar rats. Rats underwent either acute stress by forced swimming (N = 8), chronic restraint stress (N = 8), or were not subjected to any stress (N = 8). IL-2 serum levels were significantly higher in forced swimming, but not in restraint stress rats, compared to non-stressed rats. IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α levels were higher in both forced swimming and restraint stress compared to non-stressed rats. IFN-γ production was significantly decreased by restraint stress, but not by forced swimming. IL-22 was not affected significantly by either stress condition. Alterations in the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α may indicate a pathophysiological pathway from acute and chronic stress to the development of depression. Changes in IL-4 and IL-10 may link acute and chronic stress to autoimmune disorders, allergies or cancer. The reported changes in IFN-γ could provide an explanation for the higher susceptibility to infection seen in life periods associated with sustained levels of stress.

中文翻译：

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应激诱导的大鼠细胞因子变化。

应激诱导的细胞因子变化可能是应激与精神疾病（如抑郁症）和器质性疾病（如感染，自身免疫性疾病和癌症）的发病机制之间的联系。我们测试了压力对雄性Wistar中白介素（IL）-2，IL-4，IL-6，IL-10，IL-22，肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α和干扰素（IFN）-γ血清水平的影响大鼠。大鼠通过强迫游泳遭受急性应激（N = 8），受到慢性束缚应激（N = 8），或者没有受到任何应激（N = 8）。与非压力大鼠相比，在强迫游泳中，IL-2血清水平显着更高，但在约束压力大鼠中则没有。与非应激大鼠相比，在强迫游泳和约束应激中，IL-4，IL-6，IL-10和TNF-α的水平更高。约束压力可显着降低IFN-γ的产生，但强迫游泳则不会。IL-22不受任一种应激条件的影响。促炎细胞因子IL-6和TNF-α的改变可能表明从急性和慢性应激到抑郁症发展的病理生理学途径。IL-4和IL-10的变化可能将急性和慢性应激与自身免疫性疾病，过敏或癌症联系起来。报道的IFN-γ变化可能为在持续压力水平下的生命周期中较高的感染易感性提供了解释。