The impact of stressful life events on natural killer cells

A study was carried out among members of a kibbutz to determine to what extent their capacity to cope with stressors affected natural killer (NK) cells and how this capacity was regulated by personal, family and social resources. The NK activity and NK cell markers were analysed among 92 kibbutz residents. A number of psychosocial parameters (including family function, social support, and demoralization) were assessed in parallel. A significant correlation was found between the capacity of individuals to cope with daily life stress and their cytotoxic NK activity. Individuals who were diagnosed as having anxiety neurosis had a significantly weaker NK activity and their population of Leu‐11 positive cells was significantly lower than among those without such symptoms. No significant association could be determined between either NK cell activity or proportion of Leu‐11 positive lymphocytes and any of the psychosocial parameters tested. Thus, while coping with stress has a significant effect on the NK system, further studies are required to elucidate the psychosocial mechanisms involved.