Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40285614›Full record

ArticleAdvanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)2025

Oxytocin-Mediate Modulation of Splenic Immunosuppression in Chronic Social Stress Through Neuroendocrine Pathways.

Yi-Shu Zhang, Hai-Chao Chen, Jia-Xin Cao, Si-Wei Zhou, Yue-Zhang Ma, Yu-Hong Jing

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yi-Shu ZhangInstitute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, P. R. China.
Hai-Chao ChenInstitute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, P. R. China.
Jia-Xin CaoInstitute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, P. R. China.
Si-Wei ZhouInstitute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, P. R. China.
Yue-Zhang MaDepartment of Immunization Program, Shaanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi'an, P. R. China.
Yu-Hong JingInstitute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, P. R. China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6017-5898

Funding

Gansu Provincial Joint Fund Project: "Mechanistic Study of PVN-Acc OT/OTR Signaling in Empathy Deficits Induced by Early Maternal Separation in Children" 24JRRA817National Natural Science Foundation of China
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Chronic social stress (CSS) is a significant public health challenge that negatively impacts behavior and immune function through brain-spleen interactions. Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide critical for social behavior and immune regulation, is upregulated during CSS, though its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the role of OT in splenic immune modulation using a murine model of CSS. Behavioral evaluations, serum oxytocin quantification, and splenic immunophenotypic analysis were performed. Splenic denervation confirmed OT's neuromodulatory role, whereas OTR antagonism revealed its endocrine function. CSS-induced OT elevation was associated with immunosuppression, characterized by increased Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells and reduced CD4⁺ T and CD19⁺ B cells. OT also modulated macrophage polarization, inhibiting M1-like (pro-inflammatory) and enhancing M2-like (anti-inflammatory) phenotypes. Denervation or pharmacological blockade of OT signaling partly reversed CSS-induced splenic immunosuppression but adversely affected survival in CSS-exposed mice. Additionally, denervation or OTR antagonism reduced the mice's response to social defeat, as shown by decreased social avoidance behavior. These findings suggest that OT-mediated immunosuppression likely represents a compensatory mechanism in response to chronic social stress. Targeting the OT-immune axis could offer innovative therapeutic approaches for stress-associated disorders by restoring immune homeostasis while maintaining behavioral integrity.

Indexed as

Immune ToleranceNeurosecretory SystemsOxytocinSpleenStress, PsychologicalAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLSocial BehaviorOxytocinbrain‐spleen interactionchronic social stressimmune regulationmacrophage polarizationoxytocin

Identifiers

PMID40285614
PMCPMC12224936

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.