[Protection of the Skin Barrier Function in Inflammatory Disease]

The skin is the largest human organ, comprising the epidermis that is composed of epithelial tissue, the dermis composed of connective tissue, and the innermost subcutaneous tissue. Generally, skin conditions are due to aging and the influence of the external environment, but empirically patients with gastrointestinal diseases are more prone to pruritus and inflammation caused by dry skin. A decrease in the skin barrier function, involving immunocompetent mast cells and oxidative stress, was noted in indomethacin-induced small intestine inflammation, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis, and azoxymethane+DSS-induced colorectal cancer. A possible correlation was found to exist between inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases and the skin, and this correlation was investigated using a rheumatoid arthritis model as representative of inflammatory diseases. Similar to previously reported results, deterioration of the skin barrier function was observed, and new information was obtained by analyzing changes in inflammatory markers in the blood and skin tissues. Understanding the underlying mechanism of decreased skin barrier function will help in establishing effective prophylaxis and treatment methods and clarify the importance of crosstalk between organs. It will also help accelerate drug development.