Acute psychological stress induces short-term variable immune response. Homo sapiens

Analysis of gene expression in leukocytes taken from 13 participants 1 week before or after the skydive (baseline), before boarding the airplane (pre-boarding), at landing and 1 h after the parachute jump (1 h landing). Results identify a subset of genes expressed by natural killer cells that are upregulated in leukocytes in response to acute psychological stress. Overall design: This study evaluated gene expression in leukocytes taken prior to and after first-time tandem skydive from 13 healthy individuals to identify genes whose expression is modulated in response to acute psychological stress.