The drug inhibits a hormone called progesterone. Weiner and other researchers know that RU-486 also counters cortisol and other glucocorticoids. When the researchers added RU-486 to cells growing in culture, they found that it reversed the vpr protein's destructive effects on immunity. In addition, the drug prevented T cell death. T hese findings fit with a growing body of research on stress, hormones, and disease.
Researchers know that people make cortisol and other hormones in times of stress.
A stock market crash isn't the only stressor most people face. Aggressive rush-hour drivers, job pressures, financial problems, and other issues can add up to chronic stress. That ongoing stress increases the risk of developing a variety of diseases, from the common cold to heart disease. For HIV, the link between stress and disease remains controversial, although it is clear that people infected with the virus face a raft of stressors. They must contend with the emotional stress of knowing they are likely to develop a lethal disease.