MacMurray J P, Barker J P, Armstrong J D, Bozzetti L P, Kuhn I N
Life Sci. 1983 May 16;32(20):2363-70. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(83)90767-1.
Adrenocortical activity varies on a circannual basis with increased secretion in the winter and decreased secretion in the summer. One consequence of this variation is a circannual pattern in immune function. Adrenal corticosteroids, especially glucocorticoids, depress cellular immune function and seem to be more effective against T-suppressor cells. Thus, when adrenocortical activity is elevated, T-cell activity is depressed and B-cell activity is elevated. To the extent that T-cell "surveillance" is depressed in winter, there should be increased lymphoproliferative cancer risk during winter and in regions characterized by cold climates. This article presents data which suggest: (1) a winter, adrenal-corticoid induced, depression of T-cell function which is accompanied by elevated B-cell function; (2) elevated serum immunoglobulin levels in the winter; and (3) an inverse relationship between ambient temperature and serum immunoglobulin levels. The circannual pattern in immune function could help explain increased lymphoproliferative cancer risk, as a side effect of immunosuppression therapy during organ transplants, and as a function of latitude.
肾上腺皮质活动呈现出每年周期性变化，冬季分泌增加，夏季分泌减少。这种变化的一个结果是免疫功能出现年度周期性模式。肾上腺皮质类固醇，尤其是糖皮质激素，会抑制细胞免疫功能，并且似乎对抑制性T细胞更有效。因此，当肾上腺皮质活动增强时，T细胞活性受到抑制，B细胞活性增强。由于冬季T细胞“监测”功能受到抑制，在冬季以及气候寒冷地区，淋巴增生性癌症风险应该会增加。本文提供的数据表明：（1）冬季由肾上腺皮质激素引起的T细胞功能抑制，同时伴有B细胞功能增强；（2）冬季血清免疫球蛋白水平升高；（3）环境温度与血清免疫球蛋白水平呈负相关。免疫功能的年度周期性模式有助于解释淋巴增生性癌症风险增加的现象，这是器官移植期间免疫抑制治疗的副作用，也是纬度的函数。
