How do leukocytes contribute to wound healing?
If there is a superficial injury to the skin, a wound occurs. It is often accompanied by numbness or severe pain. In some cases, those affected notice a strong flow of blood, which they try to staunch with a band-aid. Alternatively, cool the tissue under running water. After a short time, the blood stagnates and the wound begins to close. Leukocytes and thrombocytes play an important role in the healing process .
How leukocytes accelerate wound healing
The blood platelets in particular ensure the wound closure and prevent the penetration of pathogens. To speed wound healing, keep the injured area free of dirt and germs. Otherwise, bacteria will get in and cause an infection.
What happens during wound healing?
As soon as a wound occurs in the body, it begins to heal. It usually runs in three stages, which follow each other. There is also the possibility that the individual phases partially overlap. Doctors describe the stages as:
- Exsudationsphase,
- granulation phase and
- epithelization phase.
During the exudation phase, the focus is on stopping the bleeding and cleaning the wound. During the granulation phase, the organism builds up granulation tissue. The injury closes with a crust of blood, the scab. Its maturation takes place in the epithelization phase. In addition, scarring and epithelization of the wound occur at this stage. The technical term describes the overgrowth of the injury with epithelial cells. It begins at the healthy epithelial tissue of the wound edges.
In an acute wound, the healing process takes two weeks to 21 days. The exact duration depends on the type of injury and its size. In the case of chronic skin injuries, the wound healing process is disrupted. This lengthens the entire process. In addition, there are more relapses. The permanent health complication results from the lack of treatment of the causal cause or from ignorance of it. The wound may worsen due to improper therapy.
If pathogens penetrate the tissue, inflammation occurs, which is accompanied by pain and the formation of pus. In some cases, the chronic course of the wound lasts for several months or years. In people with a weak immune system and a platelet disorder, the injury may never heal completely.
The relationship between leukocytes and wound healing
The white blood cells play an important role in the wound healing phases. They are particularly important in the exudation phase, which is referred to as the “inflammation stage”. This is the cleansing phase where the white blood cells and hormones kill viruses and bacteria.
Furthermore, the leukocytes promote stimulation during wound healing . First of all, hemostasis is given high priority. To do this, the vessels contract, reducing blood flow. In addition, the platelets accumulate on the collagen fibers. They are glued together by fibrinogen, resulting in a platelet clot.
The acidosis in the injured area leads to edema. This promotes the conversion of fibrocytes into fibroblasts. Already at this stage, the dilution of the toxic decay products in the wound begins. The leukocytes are mainly used as “cleaning aids” in wound healing. Lymphocytes and neutrophilic granulocytes are of great importance . The monocytes and macrophages also participate in the healing process.
In particular, the neutrophilic granulocytes dissolve dead tissue in the wound and phagocytose bacteria. Here, the lion’s share of the leukocytes disintegrates during wound healing. As a result, hydrolytic enzymes are released. They destroy the residues of the white blood cells. The monocytes perform a similar task. The macrophages produce growth factors that stimulate wound healing. Furthermore, the cells clean up the injury by means of phagocytosis .
Already at the end of the inflammatory phase, new blood vessels begin to form. As a rule, the exudation phase works when the wound conditions are moist. The wound temperature is ideally around 28 degrees Celsius. Both of these prerequisites are not met in chronic injuries, so that bacterial inflammation occurs, for example.
The granulation phase and the epithelization phase
The granulation phase usually starts one day after the injury occurs. It reaches its maximum after three to days. During the stage, tissue forms to fill the wound. The cells accompanying the vessels migrate to the edges of the wound and promote the regeneration of skin and flesh. The special cells have three main abilities:
- to form vessels (endothelial cells),
- Bacteria phagocytose (macrophages) and
- to produce fibrin fibers (fibroblasts).
The latter feed on various amino acids. They result from the breakdown of blood clots by macrophages. The essential amino acid L-arginine is suitable for accelerating wound healing. The study describes its positive effect on the healing process: “The essential amino acid L-arginine improves wound healing after significant blood loss” by S. Nitsch et al. The publication took place in 2005.
During the epithelization phase, the wound closes by a third by shrinking. In the rest of the wound area, the focus is on new tissue formation. In an acute wound, the stage begins after three to four days. In rare cases, it only sets in after several weeks. First, there is increased regeneration of collagen fibers. They ensure the closure of the wound surface.
Ways to speed up wound healing
Speeding up wound healing works fine as long as you keep the injury clean. First of all, it is important to disinfect them. For this purpose, use medical alcohol or disinfectant wipes from the pharmacy, for example.
Patients can also find a practical disinfectant spray on the Internet, which also promotes wound closure. Also make sure that the edges of the wound are not tight. It also proves useful to follow a healthy lifestyle. It strengthens the body’s immune system and in this way helps to accelerate wound healing.
Tips to speed up the healing process
Age is one of the factors that promote wound healing. Due to the stronger immune defenses of younger people, they heal injuries more quickly. There are also ways to actively support wound closure. For example, make sure to keep the injured body part still. Even the pain in the wound area ensures a protective posture. In addition, you avoid physical exertion and stress.
To ensure that your wounds heal quickly, make sure you lead a healthy lifestyle. For example, you do regular sporting activities and eat consciously. Exercising also improves your blood circulation. It ensures sufficient body heat in the wound area. If you suffer from chronic injuries, treating any underlying medical conditions is a priority. They weaken the immune system so that wound healing disorders occur.
