NICOP - Promotion of stress resilience by non-invasive immunoregulatory approaches
Abstract
In collaboration with the group of Dr. Christopher A. Lowry (University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA), we recently showed t"hat immunoregulation induced by subcutaneous (s.c.) preimmunization with a heat-killed preparation of Mycobacterium vaccae (National" Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC) 11659), an abundant soil saprophyte with immunoregulatory properties, promotes active stress cop""ing, and ameliorates stress/trauma- induced anxiety and colitis [1]. M. vaccae mediated its immunoregulatory and, thus, trauma/stres""s-protective, effects via induction of regulatory T cells and interleukin (IL)-10 secretion [1]. Based on these findings, the three" main objectives of our current proposal are 1) to determine if non-invasive oral or intranasal application of heat-killed M. vaccae" before exposure to a chronic psychosocial stressor, the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC) paradigm, is able to promote stres""s resilience (prevention protocol), 2) to determine if the stress-protective effects of non-invasive oral or intranasal application" of heat-killed M. vaccae can be induced when M. vaccae administration occurs after stressor exposure has already started (treatment protocol) and 3) to determine if the stress protective effects of non-invasive M. vaccae application can be boosted by administering M. vaccae in combination with the immunoregulatory agents all-trans retinoic acid (RA) or Lactobacillus reuteri. The work is innovative because it is the first effort to use non-invasive bioimmunoregulatory approaches to prevent negative outcomes of chronic psychosocial stress exposure. The results generated within the framework of this interdisciplinary and innovative proposal will have bro"ad implications for portable, easily administered, long-lasting, and (more) powerful non-invasive approaches to promote stress resil""ience. Oral or intranasal administration of heat-killed M. vaccae, relative to intradermal or subcutaneous injection, if equally eff""ective, would provide advantages in terms of implementation in isolated or demanding operational environments afloat and ashore, thu""s improving optimal physical and cognitive functioning, leading to enhanced warfighter performance, effectiveness, and efficiency. T"his work will be done in collaboration with Dr. Lowry. Desired outcomes of the research will include a series of journal articles to" be published in appropriate scientific journals, as well as justification for further studies to determine if oral or intranasal ad""ministration of heat-killed preparations of M. vaccae, alone or in combination with other interventions, increase stress resilience"" in humans.References:1. Reber, S.O., et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2016. 113(22): p. E3130-9.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 05, 2017
- Source ID
- N629091712063
Entities
People
- Stefan Reber
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy