Restraint stress differentially affects the pathogenesis of an experimental influenza viral infection in three inbred strains of mice.

Genetic variation in the response to stress may play a critical role in susceptibility to inflammatory diseases and development of the immune response. Experimental influenza viral infection was used to study the effects of restraint stress (RST) on pathogenesis and development of the immune response. Three inbred strains of mice (C57BL/6, DBA/2, and C3H/HeN) were infected with influenza A/PR8 and subjected to repetitive cycles of RST during development of the immune response. RST diminished cellular immune and inflammatory responses in all three strains; yet only the DBA/2 strain demonstrated RST-associated reduction in influenza viral-induced mortality.