Resident Memory T Cells in Autoimmune Skin Diseases.

Tissue resident memory T cells (TRM) are a critical component of the immune system, providing the body with an immediate and highly specific response against pathogens re-infecting peripheral tissues. More recently, however, it has been demonstrated that TRM cells also form during autoimmunity. TRM mediated autoimmune diseases are particularly destructive, because unlike foreign antigens, the self-antigens are never cleared, continuously activating self-reactive TRM T cells. In this article, we will focus on how TRMs mediate disease in autoimmune skin conditions, specifically vitiligo, psoriasis, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, alopecia areata and frontal fibrosing alopecia.
Competing Interests: JH is the founder of Villaris Therapeutics and NIRA Biosciences. JH and JR are inventors on patent application #62489191, “Diagnosis and Treatment of Vitiligo” which covers targeting IL-15 and TRM for the treatment of vitiligo; and on patent application #15/851,651, “Anti-human CXCR3 antibodies for the Treatment of Vitiligo” which covers targeting CXCR3 for the treatment of vitiligo. JR is a reviewer for Frontiers Immunology journal.
(Copyright © 2021 Ryan, Harris and Richmond.)