131. Oral mucosal wound healing: Sex differences and inflammation

TLDR: Comparing inflammatory responses, following mucosal wounding, between men and women suggested that women undergo higher and prolonged inflammation of the mucosa, suggesting a putative mechanism through which women heal mucosal tissues more slowly than men.

Abstract: Faster dermal wound healing has been reported in women compared to men. Conversely, our laboratory has repeatedly found an advantage in oral mucosal healing rates that favors men, implying that sex differences in healing rates are tissue dependent. Because mucosal tissue appears to heal optimally under conditions of reduced inflammation, this study compared inflammatory responses, following mucosal wounding, between men and women. These data were obtained from previously conducted studies. 404 healthy adults participated (18–35 or 50–88 years; 202 women). Two small excisional wounds were placed on the hard palate under local anesthesia. Healing rates were determined using daily videographs. To assess inflammation, gene expressions for IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were determined in wounded tissue, at 6 h or 24 h post-wounding, using real-time PCR. Inflammatory gene expression was elevated in women compared to men at both 6 h (IL-6, TNF-α) and 24 h (IL-1β, IL-6) post-wounding, suggesting that women undergo higher and prolonged inflammation of the mucosa. In both men and women, higher tissue inflammation correlated with slower wound closure. High inflammation in oral mucosa has been associated with slower healing in past studies. Here, women exhibited both higher and prolonged inflammation in oral wounds, suggesting a putative mechanism through which women heal mucosal tissues more slowly than men. A better understanding of such mechanisms would aid in the identification of therapeutic targets to help optimize mucosal healing.