Stress hormones released during activation of the HPA axis can damage immunity partly by inhibiting the production of which cells?

1. There is a tangible physiological connection between the brain and the immune system. 2. The sympathetic nervous system innervates immune organs including the thymus, bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes. 3. Stress hormones released during HPA axis activation adversely affect immune function, and one way they do this is by inhibiting the production of lymphocytes. 4. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that circulate in the body's fluids and are especially important in the immune response. 5. Telomeres are DNA segments protecting chromosome ends and are not immune cells, so they cannot be the answer. _Source: OpenStax Psychology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 14 "Stress, Lifestyle, and Health", section 14.3 Stress and Illness_