Research Article Low Perceived Social Support Is Associated with CD8+CD57+ Lymphocyte Expansion and Increased TNF- Levels Alfredo Copertaro, 1 Massimo Bracci, 2 Nicola Manzella, 2 Mariella Barbaresi, 1 Benedetta Copertaro, 1 and Lory Santarelli 2 1 Healthcare Workers Service, ASUR, Area Vasta No. 2, 60025 Loreto, Italy 2 Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Molecular Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Torrette, 60020 Ancona, Italy Correspondence should be addressed to Massimo Bracci; m.bracci@univpm.it Received 10 February 2014; Accepted 10 April 2014; Published 27 April 2014 Academic Editor: Peter P. Egeghy Copyright © 2014 Alfredo Copertaro et al. his is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Social support has been supposed to have a positive impact on the function of the immune system. However, the relationship between perceived social support and immune function has not yet been fully investigated. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the link between perceived social support and lymphocyte subpopulations and cytokines. 232 healthy subjects provided a blood sample and completed the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaire. Lymphocyte immunophenotypes and cytokines were determined. Signiicantly increased CD8+CD57+ lymphocytes and TNF- levels were found in group with low perceived social support. Multivariate linear regression corrected for possible confounders conirmed a signiicant role of perceived social support in predicting the number of CD8+CD57+ lymphocyte and TNF- levels. his study supports the association between perceived social support and immune function. In particular, poor social support may be related to a state of chronic inlammation sustained by CD8+CD57+ lymphocyte expansion and increased TNF- levels. 1. Introduction Social support from various sources, such as family, friends, organizations, and coworkers, has been linked to many beneits for both physical and mental health [1–3]. Perceived social support refers to the insight that support would be available if needed. It is well documented that perceived social support has not only a direct efect on health but also an indirect one by bufering stress [4]. Epidemiological studies indicate that individuals with low levels of social support have higher mortality rates, especially as a result of cardiovascular disease [5–7]. Although more research is needed, there is also evidence linking support to lower cancer and infectious disease mortality [8–10]. Psychological stress and negative emotions that could be a consequence of low social support can also have an impact on the immune system [11–14]. Furthermore, alterations in immune activity may be related to increased morbidity and mortality in populations exposed to adverse psychosocial factors such as poor social networks, low socioeconomic status, and portrayed psycho- logical distress [15–17]. Little is currently known about the direct efects of perceived social support on lymphocyte subpopulations and cytokines. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the link between perceived social support and immune parameters, including lymphocyte immunophenotypes and cytokines, in a group of healthy subjects. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Participants and Sampling. Participants in the study were nurses from the local National Health Service Hospital Unit, Ancona, Italy. he study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki’s ethical standards. Being part of standard occupational health surveillance it needed no Hindawi Publishing Corporation BioMed Research International Volume 2014, Article ID 635784, 5 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/635784