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Updated: May 12, 2026
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Isolation and Culture of Primary Mouse Keratinocytes from Neonatal and Adult Mouse Skin
Published on: July 14, 2017
Cytokines and the skin barrier
Kai H Hänel1, Christian Cornelissen, Bernhard Lüscher
1Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany. luescher@rwth-aachen.de.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|March 28, 2013
Summary
Skin keratinocytes form a barrier through cornification. Cytokines influence this process, and their dysregulation in inflammatory skin diseases like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis impairs skin barrier function.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The skin barrier, formed by keratinocytes via cornification, protects against environmental insults and water loss.
- Altered epidermal cornification leads to a compromised skin barrier, facilitating entry of immunologically reactive substances.
- Skin barrier defects are characteristic of inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on cytokines in healthy skin.
- To elucidate the role of cytokines in epidermal differentiation and cornification.
- To understand cytokine contributions to inflammatory skin diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific articles on skin barrier function, cornification, and cytokines.
- Analysis of cytokine profiles in healthy versus diseased skin.
- Examination of cytokine effects on keratinocyte differentiation.
Main Results:
- Cytokines play crucial roles in regulating keratinocyte differentiation and cornification in healthy skin.
- Inflammatory skin diseases exhibit altered cytokine compositions.
- Specific cytokines found in defective skin can modulate differentiation and cornification processes.
Conclusions:
- Cytokine dysregulation significantly impacts skin barrier integrity.
- Understanding cytokine functions is key to addressing inflammatory skin conditions.
- Targeting cytokine pathways may offer therapeutic strategies for skin barrier repair.
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