Sex differences in the interleukin-6 response to acute psychological stress [An article from: Biological Psychology]

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Description:
Interleukin-6 (IL-6), an immune regulator that helps coordinate the inflammatory response, may mediate inflammatory disease exacerbation associated with stress. Twenty men and twenty women completed a single session, comprising baseline (20min), mental arithmetic task (8min), and recovery (60min). Blood samples, taken at baseline, immediately after the task, and at +30 and +60min recovery were analysed for plasma IL-6. Overall, IL-6 increased linearly from baseline to +60min recovery, and a sex difference was found in the IL-6 response, with men peaking earlier than women. These findings confirm a small delayed IL-6 increase after acute laboratory stress, and reveal sex differences in the profile of the IL-6 response.