The role of physical trauma in social stress-induced immune activation

It has been extensively studied in several mouse models how chronic, in particular chronic psychosocial, stressors facilitate the (re)activity of the innate immune system and, consequently, drive stress-associated pathologies. Here we first summarize the resulting concept and underlying mechanisms, proposing that social stress-induced bone marrow myelopoiesis, priming, emigration and activation of newly formed myeloid cells and accumulation of these cells in the spleen, gut, brain and fracture hematoma promote septic shock, colitis, anxiety and disturbed fracture healing, respectively. We further propose and discuss the hypothesis that it is not the social character of a particular stressor that promotes splenic invasion and subsequent full activation of stress-induced myeloid cells, but rather the occurrence of bite wounds as a result of direct physical interaction. Finally, we discuss the hypothesis that it is the combination of chronic stress, regardless of whether social or non-social in nature, and any kind of planned (i.e. surgery) or unplanned (i.e. bite wounds, injury) physical trauma that drives splenic invasion and subsequent full activation of stress-induced myeloid cells.