For example, social stress increases nerve growth factor gene expression, which increases the growth of sympathetic nervous system neural fibers in the lymph node tissues that structure immune responses. At a later time, when stress is experienced again, more neurotransmitters will be released in the lymph nodes because of the increased number of neural fibers, which is a direct consequence of the social factor stress from the earlier time. The immune system responds more poorly to a viral infection as a result. This is just one example of how the environment is a crucial part of our gene expression and resulting
For example, social stress increases nerve growth factor gene expression, which increases the growth of sympathetic nervous system neural fibers in the lymph node tissues that structure immune responses. At a later time, when stress is experienced again, more neurotransmitters will be released in the lymph nodes because of the increased number of neural fibers, which is a direct consequence of the social factor stress from the earlier time. The immune system responds more poorly to a viral infection as a result. This is just one example of how the environment is a crucial part of our gene expression and resulting