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Skin barrier immunity and ageing.
- Source :
-
Immunology [Immunology] 2020 Jun; Vol. 160 (2), pp. 116-125. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Dec 04. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- The skin is the outermost layer of the body with an extensive surface area of approximately 1·8 m <superscript>2</superscript> , and 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 its cellular composition work in harmony to prevent infections and to 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 specialized immune cells that are resident in steady-state skin including mononuclear phagocytes, such as Langerhans cells, dermal macrophages and dermal dendritic cells in addition to the resident memory T cells. Ageing results in an increased incidence of cancer and skin infections. As we age, the skin structure changes with thinning of the epidermis and dermis, increased water loss, and fragmentation of collagen and elastin. In addition, the skin immune composition is altered with reduced Langerhans cells, decreased antigen-specific immunity and increased regulatory populations such as Foxp3 <superscript>+</superscript> regulatory T cells. Together, these alterations result in decreased barrier immunity in the elderly, explaining in part their increased susceptiblity to cancer and infections.<br /> (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Subjects :
- Adipocytes immunology
Disease Susceptibility
Fibroblasts immunology
Humans
Incidence
Keratinocytes immunology
Langerhans Cells immunology
Macrophages immunology
Microbiota immunology
Skin cytology
Skin microbiology
Skin Diseases, Infectious epidemiology
Skin Diseases, Infectious microbiology
Skin Neoplasms epidemiology
Water Loss, Insensible immunology
Aging immunology
Immunity, Cellular
Skin immunology
Skin Diseases, Infectious immunology
Skin Neoplasms immunology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1365-2567
- Volume :
- 160
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 31709535
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/imm.13152