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Chronic stress and its impact on the immune system, vulnerability to infections and cancers
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Mohammad Bahrami    , Masoud Hassanzadeh Makoui *1 |
| 1- & Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , dr.m.makoui@zums.ac.ir |
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Abstract: (218 Views) |
Background: Chronic stress is one of the major factors affecting public health. By inducing persistent physiological alterations, it not only influences psychological well-being but also plays a pivotal role in weakening immune function. This study aimed to review and analyze the latest scientific evidence on the association between chronic stress, immune responses, and the body’s vulnerability to infections and cancers.
Methods: This study was conducted as a narrative review. Relevant data were collected through a systematic search of reputable databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science over recent years, using the keywords chronic stress, immune function, infection, and cancer. English and Persian full-text articles containing immunological data were included, and the findings were qualitatively extracted and analyzed.
Results: Evidence indicates that chronic stress disrupts the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and chronically activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to dysregulation of stress hormones and suppression of immune function. These alterations result in increased systemic inflammation, greater susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, reduced resistance to infections, and heightened cancer risk. Moreover, chronic stress impairs the function of microglial and astrocyte cells in the brain, contributing to anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. Prenatal stress may also activate the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway and disrupt the Th17/Treg balance in offspring, leading to long-term immunological consequences.
Conclusion:Chronic stress induces systemic inflammation, suppresses protective immune responses, and promotes autoimmune processes, thereby increasing susceptibility to infections and cancers. A deeper understanding of the neuro-immune mechanisms underlying chronic stress could pave the way for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic interventions to enhance public health |
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| Keywords: Chronic stress, Immunology, Cancer, Infection, Autoimmunity |
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Full-Text [PDF 612 kb]
(13 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
General
Received: 2025/08/25 | Accepted: 2025/10/8 | Published: 2025/10/20
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