Abstract
The 'activation-induced cell death' (AICD) is a molecular system leading to death of antigen-activated T lymphocytes, in order to avoid accumulation of harmful cytokine-releasing cells. This article reviews both the molecular mechanisms working in AICD and the role played by such mechanisms in preventing a number of skin diseases. Specifically, because AICD removes activated and autoreactive T cells through a CD95-/CD95-L-mediated suicide, skin diseases were scrutinized in which such valuable machinery could be lacking. Indeed, at least some inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, can be sustained by an increased survival of activated T lymphocytes associated with deficient CD95-/CD95-L-mediated AICD of such strong pro-inflammatory cells. In addition, autoreactive skin diseases, including, e.g. alopecia areata, lichen planus and other lichenoid tissue reactions, can be related to autoreactive T lymphocytes which could be unable to undergo CD95-/CD95-L-mediated AICD. Finally, a lack of AICD may be executive even in favoring cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Thus, because inflammatory, autoreactive and neoplastic skin diseases can be associated with a deficient CD95-/CD95-L-mediated suicide of activated T cells, AICD is likely to represent a fundamental program to preserve the homeostasis of the skin. Therapeutic approaches able to restore the AICD machinery promise to successfully treat such relevant skin diseases.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.