Abstract

AbstractAs a barrier to the harsh environment, the skin is a key organ that protects the body from external pathogens. This protection is conferred by a diverse range of immune cells that work in concert to mount an immune response against invading pathogens. Over the last two decades, advancements in microscopic imaging systems have enabled intravital imaging to document the dynamic behavior of immune cells in cutaneous immune responses. This has provided insight into the roles that these immune cells play in the response, and this knowledge can be used in developing therapeutic strategies. In this chapter, we will review a variety of skin immune responses and their corresponding immune cell types that have been studied via the live imaging of mouse skin. In addition, we will cover the different tools that are utilized for the live imaging of skin immune responses.

Highlights

  • Amongst the various organs in the human body, the skin is unique due to its diverse set of roles

  • dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that are key to the development of immune responses

  • The migratory behavior of the Tregs included moments of arrests to form unstable contacts with CD11c+ APCs. These interacting APCs had a marked reduction in their expression of costimulatory molecules CD80/86, and CD8+ T cell activation by these incapacitated APCs resulted in the expression of inhibitory receptors programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing-3 (TIM-3) on CD8+ T cells

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Summary

26.1 Introduction

Amongst the various organs in the human body, the skin is unique due to its diverse set of roles. From physical to immune protection, thermoregulation for homeostasis and sensory functions, the skin can do it all. This can, sometimes be a double-edged sword. Skin immune cells can confer protection against invading pathogens, they can become aberrant, leading to autoimmune diseases such as alopecia areata and vitiligo. Flow cytometry and RNA sequencing have been useful tools in the analysis and understanding of immune cell function in the skin in normal and diseased states. These techniques are, unable to reveal the dynamics of immune cell migration and cellular interaction in these states in real-time.

26.2 The Skin and Its Key Immune Cells
26.2.1 Dendritic Cells
26.2.2 Neutrophils
26.2.3 Macrophages
26.2.4 Mast Cells
26.2.5 T Cells
26.3.2 Animal Systems and Fluorescent-Cell Labelling Techniques
26.4.1 Sterile Injury
26.4.2 Contact Hypersensitivity
26.4.3 Infection
26.4.4 Cancer
Findings
26.5 Concluding Remarks – Looking Ahead to the Future
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