Infante JR1,
Peran F2,
Rayo JI1,
Serrano J1,
Domínguez ML1,
Garcia L1,
Duran C1,
Roldan A3.
Abstract
CONTEXT:
Relationships
between mind and body have gradually become accepted. Yogic practices
cause modulation of the immune system. Transcendental meditation (TM) is a specific form of mantra meditation.
We reported previously different plasma levels of catecholamines and
pituitary hormones in TM practitioners comparing with a control group,
and patterns of the daytime secretion of these hormones different from
those normally described.
AIMS:
The aim of the following study is to evaluate the immune system in these meditation practitioners, by determining leukocytes and lymphocytes subsets.
METHODS:
TM
group consisted of 19 subjects who regularly practice either TM or the
more advanced Sidhi-TM technique. A control group consisted of 16
healthy subjects who had not previously used any relaxation technique.
Total leukocytes, granulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes were counted
by an automated quantitative hematology analyzer, whereas lymphocytes
subsets were determined by flow cytometry. Samples were taken from each
subject at 0900 h after an overnight fast.
RESULTS:
The
results indicated that the TM group had higher values than the control
group in CD3+CD4-CD8+ lymphocytes (P < 0.05), B lymphocytes (P <
0.01) and natural killer cells (P < 0.01), whereas CD3+CD4+CD8-
lymphocytes showed low levels in meditation practitioners (P <
0.001). No significant differences were observed in total leukocytes,
granulocytes, monocytes, total lymphocytes or CD3+ lymphocytes comparing
both groups.
CONCLUSIONS:
The technique of meditation
studied seems to have a significant effect on immune cells, manifesting
in the different circulating levels of lymphocyte subsets analyzed. The
significant effect of TM on the neuroendocrine axis and its
relationship with the immune system may partly explain our results.
KEYWORDS:
Immune system; psychoneuroimmunology; stress; transcendental meditation; yoga
- PMID:
- 25035626
- [PubMed]
- PMCID:
- PMC4097901
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