663 Tight junction targeting peptides disrupt skin barrier and may enable transdermal vaccine delivery

The epidermis is a formidable barrier limiting the delivery of vaccines and drugs. The barrier structures found in the skin are the stratum corneum (SC) and tight junctions (TJ). SC is the first barrier, physically blocking molecules and pathogens, but its function can be disrupted by scratching or occlusion. The final barrier structure, TJs, are found in the stratum granulosum and limit paracellular transport to the Langerhans- and dendritic cell-rich areas of the epidermis and dermis. The TJ barrier is created by homodimerized transmembrane proteins such as claudin-1 (CLDN1) which connect adjacent cells.

Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - April 19, 2018 Category: Dermatology Authors: M. Brewer, T. Yoshida, E. Anderson, B. Miller, L.A. Beck Tags: Epidermal Structure and Barrier Function Source Type: research