A systematic review of the impact of psychosocial factors on immunity: Implications for enhancing BCG response against tuberculosis

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains an urgent global public health priority, causing 1.5 million deaths worldwide in 2018. There is evidence that psychosocial factors modulate immune function; however, how this may influence TB risk or BCG vaccine response, and whether this pathway can be modified...

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Main Authors: Sally E. Hayward, Jennifer B. Dowd, Helen Fletcher, Laura B. Nellums, Fatima Wurie, Delia Boccia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-04-01
Series:SSM: Population Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827319301752
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author Sally E. Hayward
Jennifer B. Dowd
Helen Fletcher
Laura B. Nellums
Fatima Wurie
Delia Boccia
author_facet Sally E. Hayward
Jennifer B. Dowd
Helen Fletcher
Laura B. Nellums
Fatima Wurie
Delia Boccia
author_sort Sally E. Hayward
collection DOAJ
description Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains an urgent global public health priority, causing 1.5 million deaths worldwide in 2018. There is evidence that psychosocial factors modulate immune function; however, how this may influence TB risk or BCG vaccine response, and whether this pathway can be modified through social protection, has not been investigated. This paper aims to: a) systematically review evidence of how psychosocial factors influence the expression of biomarkers of immunity, and b) apply this general evidence to propose plausible TB-specific pathways for future study. Methods: Papers reporting on the impact of psychosocial stressors on immune biomarkers in relation to infectious disease risk were identified through a search of the databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Global Health and PsycEXTRA alongside reference list and citation searching of key papers. Data extraction and critical appraisal were carried out using a standardised form. The findings were tabulated and synthesised narratively by infectious disease category, and used to propose plausible mechanisms for how psychosocial exposures might influence immune outcomes relevant to TB and BCG response. Results: 27,026 citations were identified, of which 51 met the inclusion criteria. The literature provides evidence of a relationship between psychosocial factors and immune biomarkers. While the direction and strength of associations is heterogenous, some overarching patterns emerged: adverse psychosocial factors (e.g. stress) were generally associated with compromised vaccine response and higher antibody titres to herpesviruses, and vice versa for positive psychosocial factors (e.g. social support). Conclusions: The evidence identifies pathways linking psychosocial factors and immune response: co-viral infection and immune suppression, both of which are potentially relevant to TB and BCG response. However, the heterogeneity in the strength and nature of the impact of psychosocial factors on immune function, and lack of research on the implications of this relationship for TB, underscore the need for TB-specific research.
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spelling doaj.art-1faaa28241ba4877bbabb54953e289222022-12-22T00:47:48ZengElsevierSSM: Population Health2352-82732020-04-0110A systematic review of the impact of psychosocial factors on immunity: Implications for enhancing BCG response against tuberculosisSally E. Hayward0Jennifer B. Dowd1Helen Fletcher2Laura B. Nellums3Fatima Wurie4Delia Boccia5Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK; Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK; Corresponding author. Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, University of Oxford, 42-43 Park End Street, Oxford, OX1 1JD, UKDepartment of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UKInstitute of Infection & Immunity, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK; Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Hucknall Road, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UKDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UKFaculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UKBackground: Tuberculosis (TB) remains an urgent global public health priority, causing 1.5 million deaths worldwide in 2018. There is evidence that psychosocial factors modulate immune function; however, how this may influence TB risk or BCG vaccine response, and whether this pathway can be modified through social protection, has not been investigated. This paper aims to: a) systematically review evidence of how psychosocial factors influence the expression of biomarkers of immunity, and b) apply this general evidence to propose plausible TB-specific pathways for future study. Methods: Papers reporting on the impact of psychosocial stressors on immune biomarkers in relation to infectious disease risk were identified through a search of the databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Global Health and PsycEXTRA alongside reference list and citation searching of key papers. Data extraction and critical appraisal were carried out using a standardised form. The findings were tabulated and synthesised narratively by infectious disease category, and used to propose plausible mechanisms for how psychosocial exposures might influence immune outcomes relevant to TB and BCG response. Results: 27,026 citations were identified, of which 51 met the inclusion criteria. The literature provides evidence of a relationship between psychosocial factors and immune biomarkers. While the direction and strength of associations is heterogenous, some overarching patterns emerged: adverse psychosocial factors (e.g. stress) were generally associated with compromised vaccine response and higher antibody titres to herpesviruses, and vice versa for positive psychosocial factors (e.g. social support). Conclusions: The evidence identifies pathways linking psychosocial factors and immune response: co-viral infection and immune suppression, both of which are potentially relevant to TB and BCG response. However, the heterogeneity in the strength and nature of the impact of psychosocial factors on immune function, and lack of research on the implications of this relationship for TB, underscore the need for TB-specific research.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827319301752TuberculosisImmunityBCG vaccinePsychosocialStressSocial protection
spellingShingle Sally E. Hayward
Jennifer B. Dowd
Helen Fletcher
Laura B. Nellums
Fatima Wurie
Delia Boccia
A systematic review of the impact of psychosocial factors on immunity: Implications for enhancing BCG response against tuberculosis
SSM: Population Health
Tuberculosis
Immunity
BCG vaccine
Psychosocial
Stress
Social protection
title A systematic review of the impact of psychosocial factors on immunity: Implications for enhancing BCG response against tuberculosis
title_full A systematic review of the impact of psychosocial factors on immunity: Implications for enhancing BCG response against tuberculosis
title_fullStr A systematic review of the impact of psychosocial factors on immunity: Implications for enhancing BCG response against tuberculosis
title_full_unstemmed A systematic review of the impact of psychosocial factors on immunity: Implications for enhancing BCG response against tuberculosis
title_short A systematic review of the impact of psychosocial factors on immunity: Implications for enhancing BCG response against tuberculosis
title_sort systematic review of the impact of psychosocial factors on immunity implications for enhancing bcg response against tuberculosis
topic Tuberculosis
Immunity
BCG vaccine
Psychosocial
Stress
Social protection
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827319301752
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