title: Stress-related changes to immune cells in the skin prior to wounding may impair subsequent healing.
abstract: Higher psychological stress is associated with slower dermal wound healing, but the immunological mechanisms behind this effect are only partially understood. This paper aims to investigate whether immune cells present in the skin prior to wounding can affect subsequent healing in high-stress and low-stress participants. Two studies are presented in which skin biopsies were analysed using immunohistochemistry for numbers of macrophages and Langerhans cells, and immune cell activation (Study 2 only). Immune cells were related to perceived stress levels and subsequent healing. Study 1 included 19 healthy older adults and showed that higher stress was associated with significantly fewer macrophages in the skin. Study 2 included 22 younger adults and showed that higher stress was associated with significantly lower activation of immune cells in the skin. Furthermore, lower activation of immune cells (as measured by human leukocyte antigen (HLA expression)) and fewer Langerhans cells were associated with slower healing. Together these studies show the first preliminary evidence that the number and activation of immune cells in the skin prior to wounding are affected by stress and can impact healing. Larger studies are needed to confirm these effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koschwanez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Centre for Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vurnek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weinman
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tarlton
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whiting
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Satya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amirapu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colgan
authors.affiliation: Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Counties Manukau District Health Board, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jarrett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: e.broadbent@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Broadbent
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: Activation; HLA; Immune; Langerhans; Leukocytes; Macrophages; Stress; Wound healing