141. Short-term selective upregulation of natural killer cell genes in response to a first- time tandem skydive

Acute stress induces the activation and mobilization of natural killer (NK) cells into peripheral blood, but the genomic response is unknown. The entire transcriptome of leukocytes was temporally profiled in participants experiencing acute psychological stress through a first-time tandem skydive. Gene expression was examined at baseline, pre-boarding, landing and 1 h post-jump. A peak in expression of a subset of NK cell related genes was observed that complements previously shown peaks in anxiety and sympathetic adrenal response just before and during jump. The expression of these genes returned to baseline levels 1 h post-jump. This selective upregulation of NK genes demonstrates a genomic response to acute stress not accounted solely by an influx of NK cells.