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Our body's most outward facing epithelial barrier, the skin, serves as the frontline defense against myriad environmental assailants. To combat these motley threats, the skin has evolved a sophisticated immunological arsenal. In this article, I provide an overview of the skin's complex architecture and the distinct microniches in which immune cells reside and function. I review burgeoning literature on the synchronized immune, stromal, epithelial, and neuronal cell responses in healthy and inflamed skin. Next, I delve into the distinct requirement and mechanisms of long-term immune surveillance and tissue adaptation at the cutaneous frontier. Finally, by discussing the contributions of immune cells in maintaining and restoring tissue integrity, I underscore the constellation of noncanonical functions undertaken by the skin immune system. Just as our skin's immune system benefits from embracing diverse defense strategies, so, too, must we in the immunology research community support disparate perspectives and people from all walks of life.
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Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Vigilancia Inmunológica/inmunología , Piel/inmunología , Humanos , Sistema Inmunológico/inmunología , Piel/anatomía & histología , Uniones Estrechas/inmunologíaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: The immune system is a complex and integrated system whose main function is to protect the body from external aggression by microorganisms, allergens, or toxic agents. Different studies show that maintaining optimal amounts of different nutrients in the body is essential to ensure the synthesis of different factors related to the immune system. Most interesting nutrients and bioactive compounds include: vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, folic acid (B9) and biotin (B7); minerals such as zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium and copper; proteins (lactoferrin) and bioactive peptides; omega-3 fatty acids; and other nutrients and bioactive compounds such as fiber, polyphenols, carotenoids, probiotics, etc. Following a varied and balanced diet, including the servings recommended by food guides for each food group, is essential to achieve nutrient requirements. Food groups to which special attention should be paid are: fruits and vegetables (because of their high content in micronutrients and antioxidant compounds), fatty fish (because it contains omega-3 fatty acids), and dairy products (because this group contains a large number of nutrients). In particular, milk-especially enriched milk-contains many of the nutrients mentioned above. Moreover, their daily consumption, within a balanced diet, can help significantly cover their nutrient reference values. Finally, it is important to consider kind of milks as a good dietary alternative to increase the intake of some important nutrients for the proper functioning of the immune system, most especially some of them such as vitamin D, since a large percentage of the population have nutritional deficiencies.
INTRODUCCIÓN: El sistema inmunitario es un sistema complejo e integrado cuya función principal es proteger al organismo de agresiones externas provocadas por microorganismos, alergenos o agentes tóxicos. Diferentes estudios ponen de manifiesto que el mantenimiento de las cantidades óptimas de diferentes nutrientes es esencial para garantizar la síntesis de diferentes factores y mediadores de este sistema. Entre los nutrientes y compuestos bioactivos con mayor interés destacan: las vitaminas A, B6, B12, C, D, E, ácido fólico (B9) y biotina (B7); minerales como el zinc, hierro, selenio, magnesio y cobre; proteínas (lactoferrina) y péptidos bioactivos; ácidos grasos omega-3, y otros nutrientes y compuestos bioactivos como fibra, polifenoles, carotenoides, probióticos, etc. El seguimiento de una dieta variada y equilibrada que incluya las raciones recomendadas por las guías alimentarias para cada grupo de alimentos es fundamental para alcanzar los requerimientos de estos nutrientes. Y entre los grupos de alimentos a los que se debe prestar especial atención están: las frutas y verduras (por su alto contenido en micronutrientes y compuestos antioxidantes), los pescados azules (por contener omega-3) y los lácteos (por ser alimentos con gran cantidad de nutrientes). En concreto, la leche, especialmente enriquecida, contiene muchos de los nutrientes anteriormente mencionados y su consumo diario, dentro de una dieta equilibrada, puede contribuir a cubrir cantidades importantes de sus valores de referencia. Por último, es importante considerar las leches enriquecidas como una buena alternativa dietética para aumentar la ingesta de muchos nutrientes importantes para el buen funcionamiento del sistema inmune y, en especial, de algunos de ellos, como la vitamina D, en los que un gran porcentaje de la población presenta deficiencias nutricionales.
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Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Leche/inmunología , Vitaminas/inmunología , Animales , HumanosRESUMEN
Redox medicine is a new therapeutic concept targeting reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secondary reaction products for health benefit. The concomitant function of ROS as intracellular second messengers and extracellular mediators governing physiological redox signaling, and as damaging radicals instigating or perpetuating various pathophysiological conditions will require selective strategies for therapeutic intervention. In addition, the reactivity and quantity of the oxidant species generated, its source and cellular location in a defined disease context need to be considered to achieve the desired outcome. In inflammatory diseases associated with oxidative damage and tissue injury, ROS source specific inhibitors may provide more benefit than generalized removal of ROS. Contemporary approaches in immunity will also include the preservation or even elevation of certain oxygen metabolites to restore or improve ROS driven physiological functions including more effective redox signaling and cell-microenvironment communication, and to induce mucosal barrier integrity, eubiosis and repair processes. Increasing oxidants by host-directed immunomodulation or by exogenous supplementation seems especially promising for improving host defense. Here, we summarize examples of beneficial ROS in immune homeostasis, infection, and acute inflammatory disease, and address emerging therapeutic strategies for ROS augmentation to induce and strengthen protective host immunity.
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Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Oxidantes/inmunología , Especies Reactivas de Oxígeno/inmunología , Animales , Humanos , Oxidantes/metabolismo , Oxidación-Reducción , Especies Reactivas de Oxígeno/metabolismoAsunto(s)
Vacunas contra la COVID-19 , COVID-19 , Ritmo Circadiano/inmunología , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Sueño/inmunología , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/inmunología , COVID-19/prevención & control , Vacunas contra la COVID-19/clasificación , Vacunas contra la COVID-19/inmunología , Vacunas contra la COVID-19/farmacología , Vacunas contra la COVID-19/normas , Humanos , Esquemas de Inmunización , SARS-CoV-2 , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Bile acids are a group of chemically different steroids generated at the host/microbial interface. Indeed, while primary bile acids are the end-product of cholesterol breakdown in the host liver, secondary bile acids are the products of microbial metabolism. Primary and secondary bile acids along with their oxo derivatives have been identified as signaling molecules acting on a family of cell membrane and nuclear receptors collectively known as "bile acid-activated receptors." Members of this group of receptors are highly expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract and mediate the bilateral communications of the intestinal microbiota with the host immune system. The expression and function of bile acid-activated receptors FXR, GPBAR1, PXR, VDR, and RORγt are highly dependent on the structure of the intestinal microbiota and negatively regulated by intestinal inflammation. Studies from gene ablated mice have demonstrated that FXR and GPBAR1 are essential to maintain a tolerogenic phenotype in the intestine, and their ablation promotes the polarization of intestinal T cells and macrophages toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype. RORγt inhibition by oxo-bile acids is essential to constrain Th17 polarization of intestinal lymphocytes. Gene-wide association studies and functional characterizations suggest a potential role for impaired bile acid signaling in development inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In this review, we will focus on how bile acids and their receptors mediate communications of intestinal microbiota with the intestinal immune system, describing dynamic changes of bile acid metabolism in IBD and the potential therapeutic application of targeting bile acid signaling in these disorders.
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Ácidos y Sales Biliares/metabolismo , Enfermedades Inflamatorias del Intestino/inmunología , Enfermedades Inflamatorias del Intestino/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal/inmunología , Ácidos y Sales Biliares/inmunología , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/inmunología , Humanos , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Mucosa Intestinal/metabolismo , Receptores Citoplasmáticos y Nucleares/metabolismo , Receptores Acoplados a Proteínas G/metabolismoRESUMEN
Abordaje Cardiovascular durante la COVID-19 Dra Susana Blanco
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Betacoronavirus/inmunología , Infecciones por Coronavirus/epidemiología , Neumonía Viral/epidemiología , Pandemias/prevención & control , Infecciones por Coronavirus/inmunología , Neumonía Viral/inmunología , Anomalías Cardiovasculares/virología , Infecciones por Coronavirus/complicaciones , Neumonía Viral/complicaciones , Capacitación de Recursos Humanos en Salud , Personal de Salud/educación , Cardiopatías/virología , Betacoronavirus/ultraestructura , Infecciones por Coronavirus/transmisión , Neumonía Viral/transmisión , Interferones/inmunología , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Tercera conferencia: Susceptibilidad genética y COVID-19. Por el Dr. Héctor Ojeda-Casares, consultor de Enfermedades No Transmisibles de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud en Venezuela. Realizada el 25 de agosto de 2020.
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Betacoronavirus/patogenicidad , Infecciones por Coronavirus/epidemiología , Neumonía Viral/epidemiología , Pandemias/prevención & control , Neumonía Viral/complicaciones , Infecciones por Coronavirus/complicaciones , Anomalías Cardiovasculares/virología , Betacoronavirus/genética , Infecciones por Coronavirus/genética , Neumonía Viral/genética , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Capacitación de Recursos Humanos en Salud , Personal de Salud/educación , Cardiopatías/virologíaRESUMEN
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been spreading worldwide. Severe cases quickly progressed with unfavorable outcomes. We aim to investigate the clinical features of COVID-19 and identify the risk factors associated with its progression. Data of confirmed SARS-CoV-2-infected patients and healthy participants were collected. Thirty-seven healthy people and 79 confirmed patients, which include 48 severe patients and 31 mild patients, were recruited. COVID-19 patients presented with dysregulated immune response (decreased T, B, and NK cells and increased inflammatory cytokines). Also, they were found to have increased levels of white blood cell, neutrophil count, and D-dimer in severe cases. Moreover, lymphocyte, CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell, NK cell, and B cell counts were lower in the severe group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CD4+ cell count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and D-dimer were risk factors for severe cases. Both CT score and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) were associated with disease severity. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis has shown that all these parameters and scores had quite a high predictive value. Immune dysfunction plays critical roles in disease progression. Early and constant surveillance of complete blood cell count, T lymphocyte subsets, coagulation function, CT scan and CPIS was recommended for early screening of severe cases.
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Betacoronavirus/inmunología , Infecciones por Coronavirus/inmunología , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Neumonía Viral/inmunología , Adulto , Anciano , Linfocitos B/inmunología , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/inmunología , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/inmunología , COVID-19 , Infecciones por Coronavirus/patología , Femenino , Humanos , Células Asesinas Naturales/inmunología , Recuento de Linfocitos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neutrófilos/inmunología , Pandemias , Neumonía Viral/patología , Estudios Retrospectivos , SARS-CoV-2 , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Resultado del TratamientoAsunto(s)
Ayuno/fisiología , Infecciones/inmunología , Inflamación/prevención & control , Enfermedad Aguda , Animales , Enfermedad Crónica , Regulación hacia Abajo , Humanos , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Infecciones/patología , Inflamación/inmunología , Inflamación/patología , Mediadores de Inflamación/metabolismoAsunto(s)
Microbioma Gastrointestinal/fisiología , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Vacunas contra la Influenza/inmunología , Animales , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Formación de Anticuerpos/genética , Disbiosis/complicaciones , Disbiosis/genética , Disbiosis/inmunología , Disbiosis/metabolismo , Humanos , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/genética , Inmunogenicidad Vacunal/genética , Inmunogenicidad Vacunal/fisiología , Ratones , Ratones Noqueados , Receptor Toll-Like 5/genética , Receptor Toll-Like 5/metabolismoAsunto(s)
Estado de Salud , Neoplasias/psicología , Neoplasias/terapia , Estrés Psicológico/complicaciones , Animales , Ansiedad/complicaciones , Ansiedad/patología , Humanos , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Tolerancia Inmunológica/fisiología , Ratones , Neoplasias/inmunología , Neoplasias/patología , Estrés Psicológico/patología , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
The human gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem that can mediate the interaction of the human host with their environment. The interaction between gut microbes and commonly used non-antibiotic drugs is complex and bidirectional: gut microbiome composition can be influenced by drugs, but, vice versa, the gut microbiome can also influence an individual's response to a drug by enzymatically transforming the drug's structure and altering its bioavailability, bioactivity or toxicity (pharmacomicrobiomics). The gut microbiome can also indirectly impact an individual's response to immunotherapy in cancer treatment. In this review we discuss the bidirectional interactions between microbes and drugs, describe the changes in gut microbiota induced by commonly used non-antibiotic drugs, and their potential clinical consequences and summarise how the microbiome impacts drug effectiveness and its role in immunotherapy. Understanding how the microbiome metabolises drugs and reduces treatment efficacy will unlock the possibility of modulating the gut microbiome to improve treatment.
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Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/efectos de los fármacos , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/fisiología , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico , Preparaciones Farmacéuticas/metabolismo , Inhibidores de la Bomba de Protones/farmacología , Animales , Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos/uso terapéutico , Efectos Colaterales y Reacciones Adversas Relacionados con Medicamentos , Humanos , Hipoglucemiantes/farmacología , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Metformina/farmacología , FarmacologíaAsunto(s)
Comunicación Celular/inmunología , Homeostasis/fisiología , Microbiota/inmunología , Células T Invariantes Asociadas a Mucosa/fisiología , Cicatrización de Heridas/fisiología , Animales , Comunicación Celular/fisiología , Crecimiento y Desarrollo/fisiología , Humanos , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Activación de Linfocitos/fisiología , Microbiota/fisiología , Piel/crecimiento & desarrollo , Piel/inmunología , Piel/microbiología , Piel/fisiopatología , Fenómenos Fisiológicos de la Piel , Factores de Tiempo , Cicatrización de Heridas/inmunologíaRESUMEN
Viral and bacterial infections causing systemic inflammation are significant risk factors for developing body. Inflammatory processes can alter physiological levels of regulatory factors and interfere with developmental mechanisms. The brain is the main target for the negative impact of inflammatory products during critical ontogenetic periods. Subsequently, the risks of various neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, schizophrenia, and depression are increased in the offspring. Inflammation-induced physiological disturbances can cause immune and behavioral disorders, reproductive deficiencies, and infertility. The influence of maternal immune stress is mediated by the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, monocyte chemotactic protein 1, leukemia-inhibiting factor, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion in the maternal-fetal system. The increasing number of patients with neuronal and reproductive disorders substantiates the identification of biomarkers for these disorders targeted at their therapy.
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Citocinas/metabolismo , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Mediadores de Inflamación/metabolismo , Sistemas Neurosecretores/metabolismo , Efectos Tardíos de la Exposición Prenatal/metabolismo , Reproducción/fisiología , Animales , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Encéfalo/inmunología , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Citocinas/inmunología , Femenino , Humanos , Inflamación/complicaciones , Inflamación/inmunología , Inflamación/metabolismo , Mediadores de Inflamación/inmunología , Sistemas Neurosecretores/inmunología , Embarazo , Síndrome de Respuesta Inflamatoria Sistémica/complicaciones , Síndrome de Respuesta Inflamatoria Sistémica/inmunología , Síndrome de Respuesta Inflamatoria Sistémica/metabolismoRESUMEN
Upon priming by dendritic cells, naïve CD4 T lymphocytes are exposed to distinct molecular environments depending on the nature of the pathological stimulus. In response, they mobilize different gene networks that establish lineage-specific developmental programs, and coordinate the acquisition of specific phenotype and functions. Accordingly, CD4 T cells are capable of differentiation into a large variety of functionally-distinct T helper (Th) cell subsets. In this review, we describe the molecular events that control CD4 T cell differentiation at the level of the chromatin. We insist on recent works that have highlighted the key role of H3K9me3-dependent epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of T cell identity. Interestingly, these pathways shape and control the developmental programs at least in part through the regulation of endogenous retroviruses-derived sequences that have been exapted into cis-regulatory modules of Th genes.
TITLE: Les rétrovirus endogènes - Un rôle clé dans la programmation des lymphocytes T CD4. ABSTRACT: Les lymphocytes T CD4 jouent un rôle clé dans le maintien de l'intégrité de l'organisme contre les dangers endogènes et exogènes. Ces cellules représentent donc un espoir thérapeutique majeur dans de nombreuses situations physiopathologiques. Dans cette synthèse, nous discuterons des mécanismes moléculaires qui définissent l'identité et les fonctions de ces cellules en réponse aux signaux de l'environnement. Nous nous intéresserons plus particulièrement aux voies épigénétiques qui coordonnent leur différenciation et leur plasticité. Des données récentes de la littérature suggèrent qu'elles pourraient agir en régulant l'activité de séquences dérivées de rétrovirus endogènes qui auraient été cooptées en modules cis-régulateurs de gènes pour le bénéfice de l'hôte.
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Retrovirus Endógenos/fisiología , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Animales , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/fisiología , Diferenciación Celular/genética , Diferenciación Celular/inmunología , Linaje de la Célula/genética , Linaje de la Célula/inmunología , Células Dendríticas/inmunología , Células Dendríticas/fisiología , Retrovirus Endógenos/genética , Retrovirus Endógenos/inmunología , Epigénesis Genética/fisiología , Humanos , Activación de Linfocitos/fisiología , Subgrupos de Linfocitos T/inmunología , Subgrupos de Linfocitos T/fisiologíaRESUMEN
C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are important in several immune regulatory processes. These receptors recognize glycans expressed by host cells or by pathogens. Whereas pathogens are recognized through their glycans, which leads to protective immunity, aberrant cellular glycans are now increasingly recognized as disease-driving factors in cancer, auto-immunity, and allergy. The vast variety of glycan structures translates into a wide spectrum of effects on the immune system ranging from immune suppression to hyper-inflammatory responses. CLRs have distinct expression patterns on antigen presenting cells (APCs) controlling their role in immunity. CLRs can also be exploited to selectively target specific APCs, modulate immune responses and enhance antigen presentation. Here we will discuss the role of glycans and their receptors in immunity as well as potential strategies for immune modulation. A special focus will be given to different dendritic cell subsets as these APCs are crucial orchestrators of immune responses in infections, cancer, auto-immunity and allergies. Furthermore, we will highlight the potential use of nanoscale lipid bi-layer structures (liposomes) in targeted immunotherapy.
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Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Sistema Inmunológico/inmunología , Lectinas Tipo C/inmunología , Polisacáridos/inmunología , Glicosilación , Humanos , Lectinas Tipo C/metabolismo , Polisacáridos/metabolismoRESUMEN
Intestinal fibrosis is a devastating complication in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Its characteristics include the loss of regular peristalsis and nutrition absorption, excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, thickness of intestinal lumen due to the formation of strictures and of scar tissue. As a major cell type involved in fibrogenesis, the myofibroblasts have already been shown to have a plastic and heterogeneous function in producing abundant collagen, fibronectin and connective tissue growth factor. The primary sources of ECM-producing and vimentin-positive myofibroblasts come from different precursor cells, including bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells, fibrocytes, pericytes, epithelial to mesenchymal transition and endothelial to mesenchymal transition. Recent immunological research findings suggest that numerous cytokines and chemokines made from macrophages, in addition to T cells and other myeloid cell types, are also important drivers of myofibroblast differentiation and hence of the activation of myofibroblast-mediated transforming growth factor and collagen production. In this review we discuss the origins, roles and cell signaling of myofibroblasts during the development of fibrosis in different organs, particularly in Crohn's disease. Finally, we suggest that the epigenetic and immunological regulation of myofibroblast differentiation may provide a novel antifibrotic strategy in the near future.
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Diferenciación Celular/fisiología , Enfermedad de Crohn/patología , Intestinos/citología , Intestinos/patología , Miofibroblastos/citología , Epigénesis Genética/fisiología , Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Fibrosis , Humanos , Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Transducción de Señal/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Introduction: Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) is a peptide hormone with proposed actions in glucose homeostasis and appetite regulation via its cognate receptor, relaxin family peptide receptor 4 (RXFP4). Here, we look for evidence for their involvement in the immune system using a mouse model. Methods: In silico analyses: we queried public databases for evidence of expression of INSL5-RXFP4 in immune system tissues/cells (NCBI's SRA and GeoProfiles) and disorders (EMBO-EBI) and performed phylogenetic footprinting to look for evidence that they are regulated by immune-associated transcription factors (TFs). Experimental analyses: We characterized the expression and correlation of INSL5/RXFP4 and other immune system markers in central and peripheral immune organs from C57/bl6 mice in seven cohorts. We tested whether fluctuations in circulating INSL5 induce an immune response, by injecting mice with 30 µg/kg of INSL5 peptide in the peritoneum, and examining levels of immune markers and metabolic peptides in plasma. Lastly, we quantified the expression of Rxfp4 in T-cells, dendritic cells and cell lines derived from human and mouse and tested the hypothesis that co-incubation of ANA-1 cells in INSL5 and LPS alters cytokine expression. Results: We find Insl5 expression only in thymus (in addition to colon) where its expression was highly correlated with Il-7, a marker of thymocyte development. This result is consistent with our in silico findings that Insl5 is highly expressed in thymic DP, DN thymocytes and cortical TEC's, and with evidence that it is regulated by thymocyte-associated TF's. We find Rxfp4 expression in all immune organs, and moderately high levels in DCs, particularly splenic DCs, and evidence that it is regulated by immune-associated TF's, such as STAT's and GATA. Systemic effects: We observed significantly elevated concentrations of blood GLP-1, GIP, GCG and PYY following intraperitoneal injection of INSL5, and significantly altered expression of cytokines IL-5, IL-7, M-CSF, IL-15, IL-27 and MIP-2. Immune cell effects: Incubation of ANA-1 cells with INSL5 impeded cell growth and led to a transient elevation of IL-15 and sustained reduction in IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNFα. Conclusion: We propose that INSL5-RXFP4 play a novel role in both central and peripheral immune cell signaling.
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Fenómenos del Sistema Inmunológico/fisiología , Inmunidad Celular/inmunología , Hormonas Peptídicas/inmunología , Animales , Humanos , Inmunidad Celular/genética , Macrófagos/inmunología , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Hormonas Peptídicas/genéticaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Losing a spouse is a distressing life event that can negatively affect both mental and physical health. Stress-induced health consequences often include increased risk of cardiovascular disease and altered immune system functioning marked by increased inflammation. Here, we sought to identify individual difference factors that covary with problematic inflammatory outcomes. METHOD: We measured recently bereaved spouses' (n = 99) propensity to use emotion regulation strategies and peripheral inflammation, as measured by levels of proinflammatory cytokines after ex vivo stimulation of peripheral leukocytes with T-cell agonists. Specifically, we measured participants' use of cognitive reappraisal, an adaptive emotion regulation strategy in many contexts, and expressive suppression, a less adaptive emotion regulation strategy that involves actively inhibiting emotions after already experiencing them. RESULTS: Bereaved spouses who self-reported frequently using expressive suppression as an emotion regulation strategy tended to have a more pronounced inflammatory response, as indexed by higher levels of a composite cytokine index consisting of interleukin (IL) 17A, IL-2, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α, and interferon-γ (b = 0.042), as well as tumor necrosis factor α (b = 0.083) and interferon-γ (b = 0.098) when analyzed individually. Notably, these associations were observed in both unadjusted and adjusted models, with the latter including known covariates of inflammation and other potential confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that bereaved spouses' use of emotion regulation strategies is associated with altered immune functioning, and such a link may be an important biological pathway by which interventions targeting affect may improve immune system-related health outcomes.