RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The immune system is controlled by a complex network of regulatory mechanisms which include neurologic and psychological factors. Previous studies of psychopathological population and population challenged by significant life events have shown that high levels of anxiety and depression are associated with impaired cellular immunity. However, less is known about the psychoimmuological relevance of family function with the immune function In healthy population. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence and direction of relationship between family function and cellular immunity. METHODS: Design : Cross sectional, observational study. Participants : 41 healthy adult males from a family medicine ambulatory care unit in a tertiary hospital completed a series of psychometric instruments that include the Family APGAR(Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve), FACES III. In parallel, lymphocyte subset assay, lymphocyte proliferative responses to the mitogen concanavalin(ConA), interleukin 1-beta, interleukin-2 was analysed to assess cell-mediated immune function. RESULTS: Family adaptability was inversely correlated with total T cell, B cell counts, helper T cell(T,) and Iymphocyte proliferative response to low dose mitogen Con A(p<0.05). Family cohesion was inversely correlated with suppressor T cell(Ta) (p<0.05). In the lymphocyete proliferative response to low dose Con A stimulation, the extreme family showed the highest response compared to mid-range and healthy family(p<0.05). Relative to moderately dysfucntional family, severe dysfucntional family and healthy family had significantly higher lymphocyte proliferative responses to the high dose Con A(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that family function could be related with immune function and it may impact on health and susceptibility to illness in helathy adult males. Further studies are required to elucidate the direction of relationship of family function and cellular immunity and the psychosocial mechanisms involved in the immune system.