The Role of Norepinephrine and α-Adrenergic Receptors in Acute Stress-Induced Changes in Granulocytes and Monocytes

Acute stress induces redistribution of circulating leucocytes in humans. Although effects on lymphocytes as adaptive immune cells are well understood, the mechanisms underlying stress effects on granulocytes and monocytes as innate immune blood cells are still elusive. We investigated whether the stress hormone norepinephrine (NE) and α-adrenergic receptors (α-ADRs) may play a mediating role.