Author(s)

Kenji Goto¹, Keiichi Hiramoto², Ion Takada¹, Kazuya Ooi^1*

¹Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka, Japan.
²Laboratory of Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka, Japan.

Objective: Skin dryness is a characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis model mice. A previous study reported that the stress hormone glucocorticoid (i.e., corticosterone) is related to the induction of dry skin in arthritic mice. However, the mechanism through which stress induces dry skin in these mice is still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we examined the relationship between stress and induction of dry skin in arthritic mice. Methods: Physical stress load in mice with DBA/1JJmsSlc collagen-induced arthritis was treated with water immersion stress, and transepidermal water loss and the expression of markers associated with allergic reactions and inflammation was evaluated. Results: Deterioration of skin dryness was observed in stressed arthritic mice compared with that in unstressed arthritic mice. Moreover, plasma levels of interleukin-6 and corticosterone were increased in stressed arthritic mice compared with those in unstressed arthritic mice. We also observed decreased regulatory T cell numbers and increased T helper type 2 cell numbers in the thymus of stressed arthritic mice compared with those in unstressed arthritic mice. Conclusion: These results suggested that abnormalities in the immune system were related to deterioration of dry skin in stressed arthritic mice. Thus, reduction of stress may prevent deterioration of dry skin in mice with arthritis.

Arthritis, Dry Skin, Stress, Helper T Cells, Regulatory T Cells

Goto, K. , Hiramoto, K. , Takada, I. and Ooi, K. (2020) Deterioration of Dry Skin in Arthritis Model Mice via Stress-Induced Changes in Immune Cells in the Thymus and Spleen. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 8, 23-37. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2020.81004.