A comparison of changes in secretory immunoglobulin A following a stress‐inducing and stress‐reducing task

Research suggests that the immune system may be adversely affected by chronic stress. There is some evidence that relaxation‐based practices may effect an increase in immune functioning, but recent findings suggest that acute stress may lead to similar increases. Given this, we used a counterbalanced within‐subjects design to directly compare the effects of a stressful mental arithmetic task and a relaxation‐based task on secretory immunoglobulin A (S‐IgA). Thirty participants were seen in small groups of two or three where they were administered both a mental arithmetic (stress) task and a relaxing hypnosis task. Four‐minute timed saliva samples were obtained immediately following the two experimental tasks and following two baseline periods. Results demonstrated that, compared with baseline, S‐IgA concentration and secretion rate were significantly higher following both the relaxation‐based task and stress task. Additionally, our data showed that the increases were short‐lived, decreasing significantly within 8 min following the completion of each task. Our results indicate that both stress‐reducing and stress‐inducing tasks can increase S‐IgA levels, and these results are discussed with reference to the potential differential mechanisms and clinical significance of such changes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Secretory immunoglobulin‐A reactivity following increases in workload intensity using the Defined Intensity Stressor Simulation (DISS)

Previous work suggests that secretory immunoglobulin‐A (S‐IgA) reactivity is inversely related to the perceived demands of the stressor. The Defined Intensity Stressor Simulation (DISS) comprises eight stressor modules, and allows for the manipulation of stress either through increasing the number of modules, or increasing the workload of the modules. The current study assessed the effect of increasing the workload of four modules upon S‐IgA reactivity and perceived demands. Participants (N = 14) attended three sessions on consecutive days where they provided a timed saliva sample immediately before and after 5 min on the DISS at low, medium and high workload. Following each session participants recorded their perceptions of the task with regard to workload and levels of stress and arousal. Perceived workload and stress, but not arousal, increased in accordance with increases in workload, however, differential S‐IgA reactivity was observed. Low workload resulted in a slight increase in S‐IgA secretion; medium workload elicited significant up‐regulation, while down‐regulation of S‐IgA occurred following high workload. As DISS is analogous to a variety of working environments it is suggested that the observed S‐IgA reactivity is indicative of how individuals react to multi‐tasking environments when faced with increases in objective or perceived workload demands. As S‐IgA levels are related to protection from illness, down‐regulation of S‐IgA in those who perceive greater demands may lead to greater vulnerability to ill‐health. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic changes in salivary cortisol and secretory immunoglobulin A response to acute stress

Psychological stress leads to the secretion of cortisol. While this psychoneuroendocrine response helps to maintain physiological as well as psychological homeostasis under stress, exaggerated release of cortisol can suppress aspects of immune function and have negative effects on health. The present study set out to investigate the dynamic changes in salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and cortisol before and after acute stress, and to analyse the relationship between sIgA and cortisol trend. Thirty‐five healthy subjects took part in this study. All subjects underwent an acute stress test (mental arithmetic task). Salivary cortisol and sIgA responses were assessed repeatedly before the stress test, immediately after the stress test and 20 min after the stress test. The levels of salivary cortisol and sIgA both significantly increased after the acute mental arithmetic challenge. However, the increase of sIgA is transient; the sIgA fall was significantly correlated with the cortisol rise during the 20 min after stress (r = 0.569, p < 0.001). These results may help determine the timing of effective intervention in order to reduce the hypersecretion of cortisol and improve mucosal immune function. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical injury,stress, and health: Protective role of dispositional optimism

Physical injuries are common occurrences that can have substantial implications for personal, emotional, and social functioning. A recent study reported higher prevalence of common illnesses and reduced health‐related quality of life (HRQL) in injury victims. Based on these findings, the present study examined the role of the antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA) and the stress hormone cortisol in the association between injury and health. Additionally, the role of daily life stress and dispositional optimism in this association was examined. Thirty‐seven victims of injury (e.g., fractures and burns) and 41 noninjured participants were assessed for cortisol and IgA levels and completed a battery of questionnaires assessing illness prevalence, HRQL, perceived stress, and optimism. Injured participants reported higher prevalence of illness and poorer HRQL compared with noninjured participants; however, changes in cortisol or IgA levels did not explain this increase in illness. Correlations between perceived stress and HRQL were stronger in injured participants compared with noninjured controls, indicating that injured individuals are more affected by stress. Dispositional optimism was lower in injured participants, and optimism buffered the negative effect of stress on HRQL. Accordingly, it is suggested that optimism played a protective role against the negative consequences of stress in injured individuals, thus improving HRQL.     

Hypocitricemic effect of surgical stress

Plasma citrate changes in response to surgical stress were studied in 30 patients. A marked hypocitricemia was apparent by 1 day postoperative and persisted over the recovery period (7–14 days in these studies). Plasma cortisol levels were markedly increased within 6 hr postoperatively, and by 1 day postoperatively the cortisol levels declined toward the preoperative level. Only a slight, transient decrease in plasma calcium was observed postoperatively, and the citrate changes were independent of any corresponding calcium effects. No increased urinary citrate excretion was observed which would account for the removal of citrate from circulation. Studies with dogs indicated that general anesthesia was not a contributing factor to hypocitricemic response to surgical stress.     

LED‐based red light photostimulation improves short‐term response of cooled boar semen exposed to thermal stress at 37°C

Pre‐treatment of boar semen with a red light photostimulation procedure increases its “in vivo” fertilising ability. However, “in vitro” conducted studies shown contradictory results regarding the ability of photostimulated spermatozoa to react against strong stress and to achieve the capacitation status. The aim here was to determine the effect of photostimulation on the response to short‐term moderate thermal stress of boar semen. Boar semen was exposed to red LED light regime emitting a 620–630 nm during 10 min of light, 10 min of rest and 10 min of light after 3 hr since semen was collected. An aliquot without photostimulation was included as a control. After the photostimulation, the sperm cells were incubated for 15 min at 37°C. Afterwards, motility, viability, intracellular Ca²⁺ level and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxynitrite were analysed. The results showed that the photostimulated group maintained total motility throughout the time, whereas a significant decrease in total motility was observed in the nonphotostimulated control group. Furthermore, for kinetic parameters of motility, a significant increase was observed in LIN, STR and WOB in photostimulated spermatozoa. Peroxynitrite production was significantly increased in the photostimulated spermatozoa, whereas viability, ROS production and intracellular Ca²⁺ levels were not affected by photostimulation. In conclusion, photostimulation of commercial boar semen has a positive effect on motility of spermatozoa subjected to a short‐term moderate thermal stress, which was concomitant with an increase in peroxynitrite production.     

The stress reaction in the recovery phase from halothane and isoflurane anesthesia

This study was undertaken to investigate the influences of halothane and isoflurane as well as different extubation techniques on the endocrine stress response during recovery from general anesthesia. Forty patients scheduled for herniorrhaphy and cholecystectomy were randomly allocated to 4 groups: 20 received halothane and 20 received isoflurane anesthesia. Within the halothane and isoflurane groups, 10 patients each were extubated during anesthesia (1/2 MAC) and a further 10 had awake extubation. Premedication, induction of anesthesia, and intraoperative anesthetic management were standardized in all groups. Plasma levels of endocrine stress parameters as well as mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) were measured at nine time points up to 60 min after extubation. Biometric data and duration of operation and anesthesia were comparable in all groups. In the recovery period, epinephrine levels were higher in the isoflurane groups than in the halothane groups (P = 0.02). With respect to time course, earlier and more marked increases of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels were observed in the isoflurane groups compared to the halothane groups (P less than 0.01), representing the more rapid elimination of isoflurane. The sympathoadrenergic stress response was more pronounced in patients with extubation during anesthesia than in those with awake extubation: epinephrine levels were slightly higher and group levels of norepinephrine were significantly increased (P = 0.02). No influence of the extubation techniques was observed on ADH, ACTH, and cortisol levels or on MAP, HR, or SaO2. In summary, extubation during anesthesia did not reduce the endocrine stress response. It is concluded that awake extubation should be preferred unless the operation or the patient's condition requires extubation during anesthesia.     

The influence of isoflurane on peri-operative endocrine and metabolic stress responses.

Trauma and surgery profoundly affect the circulating concentrations of metabolites and so-called stress hormones, and may thereby directly or indirectly influence recovery. This stress response on the other hand is subject to modification by the anaesthetics employed. We investigated the effects of isoflurane on selected stress parameters in 10 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery and compared them to those in 10 patients receiving halothane. Plasma levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, ACTH, and beta-endorphin, as well as glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and lactate were determined during a pre-operative anaesthesia period as well as intra- and post-operatively. The levels of all parameters remained stable or decreased during the pre-operative anaesthesia period. They increased intra- and/or post-operatively, reaching peak values in the recovery period. Although the changes in both groups were basically similar, we observed lower serum concentrations of cortisol and lactate in the isoflurane group. We conclude that isoflurane and halothane have similar effects on peri-operative changes of endocrine and metabolic parameters, and that neither can effectively block the stress response to major surgery. We found no firm evidence for a stimulatory effect of isoflurane on the parameters studied.     

Separation recall: psychophysiological response‐patterns in an attachment‐related short‐term stressor

Attachment theory is a conceptual framework for emotional‐motivational behaviour and stress regulation in social relationships. However, few experimental studies have investigated attachment‐related autonomic stress responses in adults. In a sample of 50 healthy subjects, we investigated autonomic cardiovascular reactions and subjective stress‐load to a newly developed, attachment‐related short‐term stressor (separation recall, SR). The overall magnitude of the cardiovascular response to SR was comparable to the well established mental arithmetic (MA) stress test. However, the SR induced higher levels of sadness and impaired diastolic blood pressure recovery, whereas MA was associated with higher levels of anger and greater heart rate increase. Recovery scores to the attachment‐stressor but not the mental arithmetic were related to attachment avoidance as measured by self‐report, especially when taking into account the content of the reported episodes of the SR. In sum, our newly developed attachment‐related short‐term stressor has proven good performance in a first study. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

瑞芬太尼、舒芬太尼复合丙泊酚静脉靶控麻醉在脑外科手术中的疗效分析及对血清应激相关激素水平的影响

目的 比较瑞芬太尼和舒芬太尼分别复合丙泊酚静脉靶控麻醉在脑外科手术中的麻醉效果,并比较分析两种麻醉方法对血流动力学、血浆内分泌激素水平的影响. 方法 按照随机数字表法将108例脑外科手术患者分为瑞芬太尼组(瑞芬太尼复合丙泊酚麻醉)和舒芬太尼组(舒芬太尼复合丙泊酚麻醉),每组54例.比较两组患者监测诱导前(T0)、插管时(T1)、插管后l min(T2)、插管后5 min(T3)、拔管时(T4)的血流动力学变化,采用放射免疫法检测两组患者T0～T4时间点的血浆内分泌激素变化[血清去甲肾上腺(norepinephrine,NE)、血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ(plasma angiotensinⅡ,AngⅡ)、血浆肾素活性(plasma reninactivity,PRA)、醛固酮(aldosterone,ALD)水平]以及麻醉恢复情况、副作用. 结果 与T0比较,两组患者在T1～T4各时间点SBP、DBP、HR、SpO2等指标均下降(P＜0.01);舒芬太尼组患者在T1～T4各时间点SBP、DBP、HR、SpO2等指标均高于瑞芬太尼组(P＜0.01).与T0比较,瑞芬太尼组患者在T1～T4各时间点NE、AngⅡ、PRA、ALD水平均显著升高(P＜0.01).与T0比较,舒芬太尼组患者T2～T4各时间点NE、ALD水平升高(P＜0.05),而AngⅡ及PRA水平略有升高,但差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).两组患者在T2～T4各时间点NE水平比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);两组患者T1～T4各时间点AngⅡ及PRA水平比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);两组患者T3～T4各时间点ALD水平比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).瑞芬太尼组患者自主呼吸恢复时间[(6.2±1.6)min]、睁眼时间[(7.1±1.8)min]、意识清醒时间[(13.7±2.4) min]以及拔管时间[(6.3±0.8) min]均短于舒芬太尼组患者(P＜0.01).两组患者均未发生明显严重并发症. 结论 与瑞芬太尼比较,舒芬太尼可减轻脑外科手术患者心血管应激反应,且血流动力学指标优于瑞芬太尼组,但瑞芬太尼具有良好的麻醉效果,术后患者苏醒快、自主呼吸早、拔管时间短.     

Time-course changes of serum immunoglobulins (IgA,IgG, IgM) after liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis

BACKGROUND: Serum immunoglubulin increase is a hallmark of liver disease. Serum IgA is specifically increased in alcoholic liver disease, which has been considered an IgA-associated disorder. No previous studies have been focused on the time-course changes of serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) after liver transplantation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the outcome of serum immunoglobulin levels in alcoholic cirrhosis after liver transplantation, with special focus on IgA values. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 18 patients, liver transplanted in our center because of alcoholic cirrhosis were included in the study. Serum immunoglobulins were assayed by nephelometry before transplantation and at different intervals after the procedure from the intraoperative period to more than a year after transplantation. RESULTS: A rapid drop in IgA, IgG and IgM concentration was observed during the surgical procedure, particularly after donor liver reperfusion, and during the first days after transplantation. Mild transient hypogammaglobulinemia (IgG) was present. After a subsequent moderate re-increase, serum immunoglobulins (particularly IgA and IgG) remained stable within normal or near-normal limits during the following months after liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis is followed by a decrease in serum IgA, IgG and IgM. In the short term, low IgG levels may be observed. In the long term, serum levels of IgA and IgG become normal or near-normal.     

A shortened stress evaluation tool (ASSET)

Awareness is increasing that workplace characteristics can directly influence the physical and mental well‐being of employees, adversely affecting an organization's overall performance. As the effect of work‐related stress on employee health is of particular concern, many companies are looking to develop stress risk assessment programmes. However, the measurement instruments commonly used to examine workplace stressors are long, complex and developed primarily for white‐collar workers—making evaluations expensive and potentially inaccurate for most employee groups. An alternative, two‐stage, risk assessment process is proposed, whereby a short questionnaire is used initially to screen all employees and then conventional risk assessment tools used to evaluate in detail just those individuals identified as having a potential stress problem. The ASSET questionnaire was developed as a short instrument suitable for the first stage of this process. The three main sections of the questionnaire measure employee perceptions of their job, organizational commitment and employee health. Tests involving 9196 employees in 10 public and private sector organizations within the British Isles found ASSET to be quick and easy to complete, generating a high response rate. It has a small number of reliable factors for ease of interpretation, and has excellent validity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Autonomic response to stress in interstitial cystitis

PURPOSE: Previous studies have documented elevations in indices of sympathetic activity in cats and humans with interstitial cystitis (IC). To examine potential autonomic dysregulation in IC we examined the effects of a laboratory mental stress challenge on blood pressure and heart rate (HR) in patients with IC and healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 14 female patients with IC and 14 age matched controls participated in a laboratory session, including a 25-minute mental stress challenge. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and HR were measured at intervals before, during and following the stressor. The level of chronic stress, symptom severity and pain at voiding were assessed. RESULTS: Mean age was 49 years (range 32 to 66). The resting HR of patients with IC (82.02 bpm) was significantly higher than that of controls (63.31 bpm, p = 0.0001). There was also suggested evidence of elevated resting DBP in patients with IC (p = 0.07) but no significant difference in mean resting SBP. Autonomic arousal elicited by the laboratory stressor did not differ between the groups and subjects in each group perceived the task as equally stressful. Patients with IC had significantly elevated HR at each time point compared with controls (p <0.0001) with an average mean difference +/- SD between the groups of 19.5 +/- 4.0 (main effect for group p <0.0001). Although consistent increases in SBP and DBP were observed in patients after baseline, these differences were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IC had an increased HR at baseline and throughout a laboratory mental stress challenge compared to healthy age matched women. No differences in HR or blood pressure reactivity were observed between the 2 groups.     

Anti‐stress effect of yoga‐type breathing: modification of salivary cortisol,heart rate and blood pressure following a step‐climbing exercise

This paper reports salivary cortisol levels and cardiovascular adjustments monitored after the performance of physical exercise in a subject (healthy man, 58 years old) who had practised and taught yoga techniques for a number of years. The subject performed two different step‐climbing trials which were varied according to the different breathing recovery techniques used. Immediately after the step‐climbing, the subject was asked either to get his breath back spontaneously (as reference) or by 3 min breathing using the ‘Istity Method’, based on the prolongation or amplification of the steps of the breath (breathing in–out) with short regular rest intervals. The measurements of the basal heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol concentration in the saliva were made just before starting, and 5, 15 and 30 min after the end of step‐climbing. Results suggest that the Istity breathing method can induce rapid modification of the cardiovascular function and attenuation of the cortisol level after exposure to physical stress. It might be of interest to pursue further studies of this effect, perhaps not confined to yoga experts, since the ‘Istity Method’ can be implemented by anyone after a short and simple training period. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

When stress is mental illness: A study of anxiety and depression in employees who use occupational stress counselling schemes

A previous study found that 86 per cent of employees (n = 111) who experience stress in the workplace and sought help from their workplace counselling schemes (Employee Assistance Programmes) had serious mental health problems, but the low participation rate (24 per cent) restricted generalizability and the measure used [General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐12)] did not allow diagnosis. The present study (n = 58) improved the participation rate to 35 per cent and used a different version of the original measure (GHQ‐28) that allowed diagnostic differentiation as well as validation of the original findings. This new study found almost exactly the same high levels of mental health problems existed (86 per cent) in employees who remained at their work and that participants had higher rates of anxiety than depression. This finding is at variance with the usual co‐morbid presentation of anxiety and depression found in community based mental health services and suggests that depression may be an important differentiating factor between those who can remain at work and use counselling and those who cannot. There are implications for those who provide mental health services. The results of this study further reinforce the suggestion that workplace stress may be yet another name for common mental health problems that require professional help and treatment. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of mindfulness and social support on stress reactivity during pregnancy

Exaggerated stress reactivity can lead to negative health outcomes, which can be especially harmful during important periods of development such as pregnancy. Therefore, studies are needed to examine potential protective factors associated with lower perceived stress reactivity and lower cortisol awakening response (CAR) during pregnancy. The current cross‐sectional study examined whether low‐income women (n = 152) with higher mindfulness (attentiveness and awareness of the present moment) and more perceived social support had lower levels of perceived stress reactivity and a lower CAR during pregnancy. Women completed self‐report measures of mindfulness (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), social support (Medical Outcomes Study‐Social Support Scale), and perceived stress reactivity (Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale) during their first trimester of pregnancy and collected saliva using the passive drool procedure at home (at awakening and at 30 min after awakening). Results showed that women with greater mindfulness and greater perceived social support had significantly lower perceived stress reactivity, but not a lower CAR. These results provide preliminary support for mindfulness and social support as potential protective factors of perceived stress reactivity and have implications for experimental studies aimed at improving pregnant women's mindfulness and social support for reducing their stress reactivity and potentially improving health outcomes.     

Parenting stress in caregivers of children with chronic physical condition—A meta‐analysis

On the basis of the parenting stress model we compared levels of parenting stress in families with and without a child with a chronic physical condition and analysed correlates of parenting stress in families with a child with a chronic condition. A systematic search through electronic databases identified 547 relevant studies that were included in a random‐effects meta‐analysis. Parents of children with a chronic condition showed small to moderate elevations of general parenting stress and stress related to the parent–child relationship in particular. They showed moderate to large elevations in health‐related parenting stress. Parents of children with cancer, cerebral palsy, HIV infection or AIDS, and spina bifida showed the highest levels of parenting stress. Stress levels also varied by illness severity and duration, child age, parental gender and mental health, marital status, marital quality, and levels of perceived support. Behaviour problems of the child and low parental mental health were the strongest correlates of parenting stress. The present results assist with identifying parents at highest needs for interventions aimed at reducing parenting stress. These interventions should address the reduction of child behaviour problems, the promotion of parental mental health, the increase in marital quality and social support in general, and skills for dealing with stressors.     

Gender specific sympathetic and hemorrheological responses to mental stress in healthy young subjects.

OBJECTIVE: Activation of the sympathetic nervous system may increase hematocrit (Hct), whole blood viscosity (WBV), and possibly cardiovascular risk. The aim was to study gender specific differences of mental stress on sympathetic reactivity and blood rheology. METHODS: Responses in blood pressure, heart rate (HR), Hct, WBV (Bohlin rotational viscosimeter), and plasma catecholamines to a mental arithmetic stress test (MST) were measured in male (n = 10, 23 +/- 3 years, BMI 23 +/- 2 kg/m2) and female (n = 10, 21 +/- 4 years, BMI 24 +/- 2 kg/m2) students. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and HR increased during MST in men and women, and declined to baseline levels after 15 min of recovery. In men, plasma adrenaline increased by 217% during MST (p < 0.01, ANOVA). and plasma noradrenaline increased by 68% (p < 0.05). Hct and WBV at low shear rates (0.5 and 1.1 l/s) increased as well (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, and p < 0.05, respectively). In women, the increase in plasma adrenaline averaged 118% during MST (p < 0.05) while plasma noradrenaline (-3%, p = 0.38), Hct, and WBV at all shear rates remained unchanged. Men and women differed in A adrenaline (p < 0.05), A noradrenaline (p = 0.01), delta Hct (p < 0.05), and delta WBV (p < 0.05). A Hct tended to correlate with delta SBP (r= 0.60, p = 0.07), A DBP (r = 0.57. p = 0.09). and delta HR (r = 0.50, p = 0.14), and correlated significantly with A noradrenaline (r = 0.66, p < 0.05) in men only. Multiple regression analysis showed that gender independently explained 22% of the change in Hct during mental stress. CONCLUSION: Data suggest gender specific differences in sympathetic and hemorrheological responses to mental stress in healthy young subjects. In men, sympathetic responses were related to hemorrheological responses, but not in women. It may be speculated whether such differences in stress responses may contribute to lower cardiovascular risk in premenopausal women than in men.     

Perfectionism Affects Blood Pressure in Response to Repeated Exposure to Stress

This pilot study examined the effects of perfectionism on blood pressure (BP) in response to repeated exposure to mental arithmetic stressors. College students (N = 30) in a laboratory setting were administered a series of challenging mathematical tasks. BP was measured at baseline and after each task. Multilevel modelling analyses revealed that BP tended to decline over the course of the mathematical tasks. However, higher levels of performance standards predicted relatively stable levels of systolic BP, whereas moderate and lower levels of standards predicted declines in systolic BP. Higher levels of self‐critical perfectionism predicted generally sustained levels of diastolic BP, with moderate and low self‐criticism predicting declines in diastolic BP during the repeated stressors. These preliminary results suggest that students with higher levels of perfectionism may be at risk for physiological problems associated with stress reactivity, perhaps especially so in situations in which they experience persistent stress. Although results were qualified by a relatively small sample size, effects were statistically significant and supported the importance of examining the short‐term and long‐term implications of the effects of perfectionism on cardiovascular function and the different implications of elevations in systolic and diastolic BP. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of dehydroepiandrosterone on functional innate immune responses to acute stress

The androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) responds to stress activation, exhibits anti‐glucocorticoid properties, and modulates immunity in diverse ways, yet little is known of its role in acute stress responses. In this study, the effects of DHEA and its sulfate ester DHEA‐S on human male immune function during exposure to an acute stressor is explored. Variation in DHEA, DHEA‐S, testosterone, and cortisol, along with bacterial killing assays, was measured in response to a modified Trier Social Stress test in 27 young adult males. Cortisol was positively related to salivary innate immunity but only for participants who also exhibited high DHEA responses. Additionally, DHEA positively and DHEA‐S negatively predicted salivary immunity, but the opposite was observed for serum‐based innate immunity. The DHEA response to acute stress appears to be an important factor in stress‐mediated immunological responses, with differential effects on immunity dependent upon the presence of other hormones, primarily cortisol and DHEA‐S. These results suggest that DHEA plays an important role, alongside other hormones, in modulating immunological shifts during acute stress.