Abstract
Background:
Stress is thought to exacerbate a number of diseases, some of which are skin disorders. Epidermal Langerhans' cells play a major role in cutaneous immune reactions.
Objective:
The effects of two types of stress on the cutaneous immune system were to be assessed in mice.
Methods:
Mice received stress by immobilization or housing at various population densities. Epidermal sheets were stained for I-A molecules (a member of class II major histocompatibility complex) and analyzed with a confocal-laser-scanning microscope. Contact hypersensitivity reaction to 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene was elicited in mouse ears.
Results:
The cell density, intensity of I-A expression, and number of dendrites were decreased as the population density increased. Elicitation of contact hypersensitivity was suppressed in mice that received either population or immobilization stress. Increased I-A expression and number of dendrites were observed in adrenalectomized compared to sham-operated mice. The population-dependent suppression of contact hypersensitivity reaction was not observed in adrenalectomized mice. After incubation with serum from mice that received either immobilization stress or population stress, the expression of I-A molecules on a XS52 Langerhans' cell-like cell line was reduced.
Conclusion:
Stress affected the cutaneous immune system. There were indications that adrenergic hormones played a role in the regulation of the system.
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