Cytokines and the Skin Barrier.docVIP

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2013, 14, 6720-6745; doi:10.3390/ijmOPEN ACCESS International Journal of Molecular Sciences ISSN 1422-0067 /journal/ijms Review Cytokines and the Skin Barrier 1 Kai H. H?nel , Christian Cornelissen 1,2, Bernhard Lüscher 1,?,* and Jens Malte Baron 2,?, * 1 Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; E-Mails: khaenel@ukaachen.de (K.H.H.); christian.cornelissen1@rwth-aachen.de (C.C.) 2 Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany ? These authors contributed equally to this work. * Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: luescher@rwth-aachen.de (B.L.); jbaron@ukaachen.de (J.M.B.); Tel.: +49-241-808-8850 (B.L.); +49-241-808-9162 (J.M.B.); Fax: +49-241-808-2427 (B.L.); +49-241-808-2413 (J.M.B.). Received: 6 February 2013; in revised form: 5 March 2013 / Accepted: 18 March 2013 / Published: 26 March 2013 Abstract: The skin is the largest organ of the human body and builds a barrier to protect us from the harmful environment and also from unregulated loss of water. Keratinocytes form the skin barrier by undergoing a highly complex differentiation process that involves changing their morphology and structural integrity, a process referred to as cornification. Alterations in the epidermal cornification process affect the formation of the skin barrier. Typically, this results in a disturbed barrier, which allows the entry of substances into the skin that are immunologically reactive. This contributes to and promotes inflammatory processes in the skin but also affects other organs. In many common skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, a defect in the formation of the skin barrier is observed. In these diseases the cytokine composition within the skin is different compared to normal hum