Altered kinetics of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and KGF-1 gene expression in early wounds of restrained mice

Brain Behav Immun. 2002 Apr;16(2):150-62. doi: 10.1006/brbi.2001.0623.

Abstract

Inflammatory processes that occur after injury contribute to wound closure. Previous studies showed that wounds of restraint-stressed (RST) mice had a reduced number of inflammatory cells and healed more slowly compared to controls. To investigate the molecular mechanisms between stress and wound healing, we studied cutaneous gene expression of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and KGF-1. Female SKH-1 mice were restrained for 3 days before and for 5 days following placement of cutaneous wounds. Wounds were subjected to competitive RT-PCR. At day 1, RST mice had significantly lower IL-1 beta and KGF-1 mRNA than controls. At day 5, RST mice had significantly higher IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA than controls. Treatment of RST mice with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486 restored IL-1 beta mRNA expression at day 1. Our results suggest that stress induces alterations in the kinetics of cutaneous proinflammatory cytokine and growth factor gene expression which could impair the quality of healing tissues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 7
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / chemistry*
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / genetics
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / immunology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Glucocorticoids / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Glucocorticoids / immunology*
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Interleukin-1 / chemistry*
  • Interleukin-1 / genetics
  • Interleukin-1 / immunology
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mifepristone / administration & dosage*
  • Restraint, Physical / adverse effects*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stress, Psychological / immunology*
  • Time Factors
  • Wound Healing / genetics
  • Wound Healing / immunology*
  • Wounds and Injuries / immunology

Substances

  • Fgf7 protein, mouse
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Interleukin-1
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 7
  • Mifepristone
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors