Researchers from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine say the immune system can actually benefit from a little stress.

Results reveal that the mice experienced increased TLO formation in their colons as their immune systems responded to the trauma.

While mice receiving the microbiome of stressed-out mice had the same behavioral phenotype as their donors, the transplant did not lead to the formation of more TLOs.

Study authors found that stressed-out mice deficient in the genetic receptor for IL-23 displayed signs of increased IL-23, but not IL-22.

Since TLOs have a connection to other diseases, the team thought that stressed mice would be more susceptible to a “second hit” in the colon.

Surprisingly, stressed mice actually had less inflammation after this “second hit.”.

“Our findings demonstrate that psychological stress induces formation of TLOs by increasing the production of IL-23,” Cominelli says?

“Furthermore, the stressed mice were protected after a ‘second hit,’ suggesting TLOs may function to improve the mucosal barrier.”.

The mouse models that were stressed were actually protected,” Cominelli continues.

“The message is that a little bit of stress is good in your life, but you want to be stressed in the right way.”.