Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2025
Xenograft Skin Model to Manipulate Human Immune Responses In Vivo
Published on: June 29, 2022
In Vitro Models Mimicking Immune Response in the Skin
Sujin Moon1, Dong Hyun Kim1,2, Jung U Shin1,3
1CHA University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
Insights
This review explores advanced in vitro skin models, including 3D constructs and skin-on-a-chip systems, for studying inflammatory skin diseases like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology and immunology research.
- Development of advanced in vitro models for skin research.
Background:
- The skin's immune functions are crucial for defense.
- Existing 2D models have limitations in replicating skin's complexity.
- 3D skin models offer better mimicry of human skin structure and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review in vitro skin models for studying skin immunology.
- To focus on models relevant to atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.
- To highlight the development of advanced skin models.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of 2D co-culture systems with 3D skin constructs.
- Discussion of emerging neuro-immune-cutaneous interaction models.
- Introduction of microfluidic 'skin-on-a-chip' devices.
Main Results:
- 3D skin constructs better recapitulate skin structure, barrier function, and cell interactions.
- New models incorporate immune cells and neurons for studying neuro-immune-cutaneous axis.
- Skin-on-a-chip devices simulate vascularized immune cell migration.
Conclusions:
- Advanced in vitro skin models are essential for understanding skin diseases.
- These models aid in studying pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.
- Improved models will facilitate drug efficacy and toxicity testing.
Abstract:
The skin is the first line of defense of our body, and it is composed of the epidermis and dermis with diverse immune cells. Various in vitro models have been investigated to recapitulate the immunological functions of the skin and to model inflammatory skin diseases. The simplest model is a two-dimensional (2D) co-culture system, which helps understand the direct and indirect cell-to-cell interactions between immune and structural cells; however, it has limitations when observing three-dimensional (3D) interactions or reproducing skin barriers. Conversely, 3D skin constructs can mimic the human skin characteristics in terms of epidermal and dermal structures, barrier functions, cell migration, and cell-to-cell interaction in the 3D space. Recently, as the importance of neuro-immune-cutaneous interactions in the inflammatory response is emerging, 3D skin constructs containing both immune cells and neurons are being developed. A microfluidic culture device called "skin-on-a-chip," which simulates the structures and functions of the human skin with perfusion, was also developed to mimic immune cell migration through the vascular system. This review summarizes the in vitro skin models with immune components, focusing on two highly prevalent chronic inflammatory skin diseases: atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. The development of these models will be valuable in studying the pathophysiology of skin diseases and evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of new drugs.
