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Stressed-out skin loses its antimicrobial defense mechanism
11-01-2007 · EurekAlert!It is well known that being stressed increases our susceptibility to infections by impairing the function of our immune system, but the molecular links between stress and diminished immune function have not been determined. A new study in mice has provided insight into this issue by showing that psychological stress increased production of glucocorticoids and that this decreased the expression of antimicrobial peptides in the skin, making the mice more susceptible to skin infections.
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