Skip to main content

Cutaneous Barriers and Skin Immunity

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 268))

Abstract

The skin barrier provides us with several lines of protection from outside hazards. Its most outward layers, the stratum corneum and the epidermis seal our body with an acidic, dry, and rather cool surface, hostile to microbes. Yet, there are also fine-tuned interactions between the mostly commensal microbiota on top of the skin surface, with underlying epidermal cells as well as the immune system, to preserve a healthy steady state and to initiate repair processes when necessary. We take a concise look at the recent insights on the inner workings of this complex barrier.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Balato A, Cacciapuoti S, Di Caprio R, Marasca C, Masarà A, Raimondo A, Fabbrocini G (2018) Human microbiome: composition and role in inflammatory skin diseases. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 67:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Candi E, Schmidt R, Melino G (2005) The cornified envelope: a model of cell death in the skin. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 6:328–340

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chamcheu JC, Siddiqui IA, Syed DN, Adhami VM, Liovic M, Mukhtar H (2011) Keratin gene mutations in disorders of human skin and its appendages. Arch Biochem Biophys 508:123–137

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen YE, Fischbach MA, Belkaid Y (2018) Skin microbiota–host interactions. Nature 553:427–436

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen GJM, Brüggemann H (2014) Bacterial skin commensals and their role as host guardians. Benefic Microbes 5:201–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins PM (2011) Occludin: one protein, many forms. Mol Cell Biol 32:242–250

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dudeck A, Köberle M, Goldmann O, Meyer N, Dudeck J, Lemmens S, Rohde M, Roldán NG, Dietze-Schwonberg K, Orinska Z, Medina E, Hendrix S, Metz M, Zenclussen AC, von Stebut E, Biedermann T (2019) Mast cells as protectors of health. J Allergy Clin Immunol 144:S4–S18

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eyerich S, Eyerich K, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Biedermann T (2018) Cutaneous barriers and skin immunity: differentiating a connected network. Trends Immunol 39:315–327

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feingold KR (2009) The outer frontier: the importance of lipid metabolism in the skin. J Lipid Res 50:S417–S422

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Grice EA, Segre JA (2011) The skin microbiome. Nat Rev Microbiol 9:244–253

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Grice EA, Kong HH, Conlan S, Deming CB, Davis J, Young AC, Program NCS, Bouffard GG, Blakesley RW, Murray PR, Green ED, Turner ML, Segre JA (2009) Topographical and temporal diversity of the human skin microbiome. Science 324:1190–1192

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gruber R, Börnchen C, Rose K, Daubmann A, Volksdorf T, Wladykowski E, Vidal-y-Sy S, Peters EM, Danso M, Bouwstra JA, Hennies HC, Moll I, Schmuth M, Brandner JM (2015) Diverse regulation of Claudin-1 and Claudin-4 in atopic dermatitis. Am J Pathol 185:2777–2789

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hannigan GD, Meisel JS, Tyldsley AS, Zheng Q, Hodkinson BP, SanMiguel AJ, Minot S, Bushman FD, Grice EA, Heitman J (2015) The human skin double-stranded DNA virome: topographical and temporal diversity, genetic enrichment, and dynamic associations with the host microbiome. MBio 6

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoste E, Kemperman P, Devos M, Denecker G, Kezic S, Yau N, Gilbert B, Lippens S, De Groote P, Roelandt R, Van Damme P, Gevaert K, Presland RB, Takahara H, Puppels G, Caspers P, Vandenabeele P, Declercq W (2011) Caspase-14 is required for Filaggrin degradation to natural moisturizing factors in the skin. J Investig Dermatol 131:2233–2241

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jungersted JM, Hellgren LI, Jemec GBE, Agner T (2008) Lipids and skin barrier function – a clinical perspective. Contact Dermatitis 58:255–262

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaesler S, Volz T, Skabytska Y, Koberle M, Hein U, Chen KM, Guenova E, Wolbing F, Rocken M, Biedermann T (2014) Toll-like receptor 2 ligands promote chronic atopic dermatitis through IL-4-mediated suppression of IL-10. J Allergy Clin Immunol 134:92–99

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaesler S, Skabytska Y, Chen K-M, Kempf WE, Volz T, Köberle M, Wölbing F, Hein U, Hartung T, Kirschning C, Röcken M, Biedermann T (2016) Staphylococcus aureus-derived lipoteichoic acid induces temporary T-cell paralysis independent of Toll-like receptor 2. J Allergy Clin Immunol 138:780–790.e786

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaesler S, Wölbing F, Kempf WE, Skabytska Y, Köberle M, Volz T, Sinnberg T, Amaral T, Möckel S, Yazdi A, Metzler G, Schaller M, Hartmann K, Weide B, Garbe C, Rammensee H-G, Röcken M, Biedermann T (2019) Targeting tumor-resident mast cells for effective anti-melanoma immune responses. JCI Insight 4(19):e125057

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kezic S, Kammeyer A, Calkoen F, Fluhr JW, Bos JD (2009) Natural moisturizing factor components in the stratum corneum as biomarkers of filaggrin genotype: evaluation of minimally invasive methods. Br J Dermatol 161:1098–1104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim JH, Hu Y, Yongqing T, Kim J, Hughes VA, Le Nours J, Marquez EA, Purcell AW, Wan Q, Sugita M, Rossjohn J, Winau F (2016) CD1a on Langerhans cells controls inflammatory skin disease. Nat Immunol 17:1159–1166

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kong HH, Oh J, Deming C, Conlan S, Grice EA, Beatson MA, Nomicos E, Polley EC, Komarow HD, Program NCS, Murray PR, Turner ML, Segre JA (2012) Temporal shifts in the skin microbiome associated with disease flares and treatment in children with atopic dermatitis. Genome Res 22:850–859

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Langan EA, Künstner A, Miodovnik M, Zillikens D, Thaçi D, Baines JF, Ibrahim SM, Solbach W, Knobloch JK (2019) Combined culture and metagenomic analyses reveal significant shifts in the composition of the cutaneous microbiome in psoriasis. Br J Dermatol 181(6):1254–1264

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Linehan JL, Harrison OJ, Han S-J, Byrd AL, Vujkovic-Cvijin I, Villarino AV, Sen SK, Shaik J, Smelkinson M, Tamoutounour S, Collins N, Bouladoux N, Dzutsev A, Rosshart SP, Arbuckle JH, Wang C-R, Kristie TM, Rehermann B, Trinchieri G, Brenchley JM, O’Shea JJ, Belkaid Y (2018) Non-classical immunity controls microbiota impact on skin immunity and tissue repair. Cell 172:784–796.e718

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lynch SV, Phimister EG, Pedersen O (2016) The human intestinal microbiome in health and disease. N Engl J Med 375:2369–2379

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matejuk A (2018) Skin Immunity. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 66:45–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meisel JS, Sfyroera G, Bartow-McKenney C, Gimblet C, Bugayev J, Horwinski J, Kim B, Brestoff JR, Tyldsley AS, Zheng Q, Hodkinson BP, Artis D, Grice EA (2018) Commensal microbiota modulate gene expression in the skin. Microbiome 6

    Google Scholar 

  • Naik S, Bouladoux N, Linehan JL, Han S-J, Harrison OJ, Wilhelm C, Conlan S, Himmelfarb S, Byrd AL, Deming C, Quinones M, Brenchley JM, Kong HH, Tussiwand R, Murphy KM, Merad M, Segre JA, Belkaid Y (2015) Commensal–dendritic-cell interaction specifies a unique protective skin immune signature. Nature 520:104–108

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson KE, Weinstock GM, Highlander SK, Worley KC, Creasy HH, Wortman JR, Rusch DB, Mitreva M, Sodergren E, Chinwalla AT, Feldgarden M, Gevers D, Haas BJ, Madupu R, Ward DV, Birren BW, Gibbs RA, Methe B, Petrosino JF, Strausberg RL, Sutton GG, White OR, Wilson RK, Durkin S, Giglio MG, Gujja S, Howarth C, Kodira CD, Kyrpides N, Mehta T, Muzny DM, Pearson M, Pepin K, Pati A, Qin X, Yandava C, Zeng Q, Zhang L, Berlin AM, Chen L, Hepburn TA, Johnson J, McCorrison J, Miller J, Minx P, Nusbaum C, Russ C, Sykes SM, Tomlinson CM, Young S, Warren WC, Badger J, Crabtree J, Markowitz VM, Orvis J, Cree A, Ferriera S, Fulton LL, Fulton RS, Gillis M, Hemphill LD, Joshi V, Kovar C, Torralba M, Wetterstrand KA, Abouellleil A, Wollam AM, Buhay CJ, Ding Y, Dugan S, FitzGerald MG, Holder M, Hostetler J, Clifton SW, Allen-Vercoe E, Earl AM, Farmer CN, Liolios K, Surette MG, Xu Q, Pohl C, Wilczek-Boney K, Zhu D (2010) A catalog of reference genomes from the human microbiome. Science 328:994–999

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oh J, Byrd AL, Deming C, Conlan S, Kong HH, Segre JA (2014) Biogeography and individuality shape function in the human skin metagenome. Nature 514:59–64

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ou L-S, Goleva E, Hall C, Leung DYM (2004) T regulatory cells in atopic dermatitis and subversion of their activity by superantigens. J Allergy Clin Immunol 113:756–763

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Panther D, Jacob S (2015) The importance of acidification in atopic eczema: an underexplored avenue for treatment. J Clin Med 4:970–978

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pappas A (2009) Epidermal surface lipids. Dermatoendocrinol 1:72–76

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Proksch E, Brandner JM, Jensen JM (2008) The skin: an indispensable barrier. Exp Dermatol 17:1063–1072

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Richard G (2005) Connexin disorders of the skin. Clin Dermatol 23:23–32

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sandilands A, Sutherland C, Irvine AD, McLean WHI (2009) Filaggrin in the frontline: role in skin barrier function and disease. J Cell Sci 122:1285–1294

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Scharschmidt TC, Vasquez KS, Truong H-A, Gearty SV, Pauli ML, Nosbaum A, Gratz IK, Otto M, Moon JJ, Liese J, Abbas AK, Fischbach MA, Rosenblum MD (2015) A wave of regulatory T cells into neonatal skin mediates tolerance to commensal microbes. Immunity 43:1011–1021

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Schommer NN, Gallo RL (2013) Structure and function of the human skin microbiome. Trends Microbiol 21:660–668

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Skabytska Y, Wölbing F, Günther C, Köberle M, Kaesler S, Chen K-M, Guenova E, Demircioglu D, Kempf WE, Volz T, Rammensee H-G, Schaller M, Röcken M, Götz F, Biedermann T (2014) Cutaneous innate immune sensing of toll-like receptor 2-6 ligands suppresses T cell immunity by inducing myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Immunity 41:762–775

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skabytska Y, Kaesler S, Volz T, Biedermann T (2016) How the innate immune system trains immunity: lessons from studying atopic dermatitis and cutaneous bacteria. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 14:153–156

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sparber F, De Gregorio C, Steckholzer S, Ferreira FM, Dolowschiak T, Ruchti F, Kirchner FR, Mertens S, Prinz I, Joller N, Buch T, Glatz M, Sallusto F, LeibundGut-Landmann S (2019) The skin commensal yeast malassezia triggers a type 17 response that coordinates anti-fungal immunity and exacerbates skin inflammation. Cell Host Microbe 25:389–403.e386

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tsukita S, Tanaka H, Tamura A (2019) The Claudins: from tight junctions to biological systems. Trends Biochem Sci 44:141–152

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Volz T, Kaesler S, Draing C, Hartung T, Röcken M, Skabytska Y, Biedermann T (2018) Induction of IL-10-balanced immune profiles following exposure to LTA from Staphylococcus epidermidis. Exp Dermatol 27:318–326

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams MR, Nakatsuji T, Sanford JA, Vrbanac AF, Gallo RL (2017) Staphylococcus aureus induces increased serine protease activity in keratinocytes. J Investig Dermatol 137:377–384

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yamazaki Y, Nakamura Y, Núñez G (2017) Role of the microbiota in skin immunity and atopic dermatitis. Allergol Int 66:539–544

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tilo Biedermann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Köberle, M., Amar, Y., Hölge, I.M., Kaesler, S., Biedermann, T. (2021). Cutaneous Barriers and Skin Immunity. In: Traidl-Hoffmann, C., Zuberbier, T., Werfel, T. (eds) Allergic Diseases – From Basic Mechanisms to Comprehensive Management and Prevention . Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 268. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/164_2021_477

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics