In vitro models of dermatophyte infection to investigate epidermal barrier alterations

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Mycology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Fungal skin infections (dermatophytoses) affect many people, with increasing prevalence despite treatments.
• These infections disrupt the skin's epidermal barrier, stratum corneum, and appendages.
• Current research models like in vitro cell cultures and animal models have limitations in replicating human dermatophytosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the development of cultured human skin equivalents.
• To highlight how these models improve the understanding of dermatophytosis pathogenesis.
• To investigate the impact of fungal infections on epidermal barrier integrity.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent advancements in cultured human skin equivalent technology.
• Analysis of studies utilizing these advanced models to investigate dermatophyte infections.
• Comparison of findings from skin equivalents versus traditional in vitro and in vivo models.

Main Results:

• Cultured human skin equivalents mimic human skin's keratinization process, crucial for studying fungal adherence and invasion.
• These models provide a more accurate representation of host inflammatory responses and lesion development in human dermatophytosis.
• Skin equivalents facilitate a better understanding of how fungal infections compromise the epidermal barrier.

Conclusions:

• Cultured human skin equivalents represent a significant advancement in studying dermatophytosis.
• These models overcome limitations of traditional research methods, offering better insights into fungal skin infection pathogenesis.
• Further research using these advanced models is crucial for understanding and combating dermatophytosis and its effects on skin barrier function.