Effect of Exam Stress on Salivary Interleukin-6 level in Healthy Students

Abstract

Cytokines are important small protein molecules one of them is Interleukin-6 (IL-6) .Many tissues secretes IL6 like activated leukocytes .In immune system , IL6 plays main role in production of acute-phase proteins like C- reactive protein . Human labial salivary glands, contain Messenger RNA for IL-6 .Aim of study was to demonstrate the effect of exam stress onsalivary concentrations of interleukin- 6 (IL-6) in healthy secondary school students . Salivary specimens were collected from thirteen male students before and after final academic exam. Cytokine levels were measured by commercial enzyme linked immunoassay. Salivary IL-6 was insignificantly higher after final exam when compared with its level before exam. (P >0.05).students after exam have increased level of inflammatory cytokine (IL-6) in their saliva. TheIL6 level may be used for monitoring the stress.