Skin Barrier Immunity and Ageing.

Skin Barrier Immunity and Ageing. Immunology. 2019 Nov 11;: Authors: Chambers ES, Vukmanovic-Stejic M Abstract The skin is the outermost layer of the body with an extensive surface area of approximately 1.8 m2 , is the first line of defence against a multitude of external pathogens and environmental insults. The skin also has important homeostatic functions such as reducing water loss and contributing to thermoregulation of the body. The structure of the skin and cellular composition work in harmony to prevent infection, deal with physical and chemical challenges from the outside World. In this review we discuss how the structural cells such as keratinocytes, fibroblasts and adipocytes contribute to barrier immunity. We also discuss specialised immune cells that are resident in steady-state skin such as mononuclear phagocytes such as Langerhans cells, dermal macrophages and dermal dendritic cells in addition to the resident memory T cells. Ageing results in increase in skin infections and increased cancer incidence. As we age the skin structure changes with thinning of the epidermis and dermis, increased water loss and fragmented collagen and elastin. In addition the skin immune composition changes with reduced Langerhans cells, decreased antigen-specific immunity and increased regulatory populations such as Foxp3+ Tregs. Together, these alterations result in decreased barrier immunity in the elderly explain in part their increased s...
Source: Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Immunology Source Type: research