Redox Imbalance in T Cell-Mediated Skin Diseases

Saveria Pastore,Liudmila Korkina

doi:10.1155/2010/861949

Abstract

The skin is permanently exposed to physical, chemical, and biological aggression by the environment. In addition, acute and chronic inflammatory events taking place in the skin are accompanied by abnormal release of pro-oxidative mediators. In this paper, we will briefly overview the homeostatic systems active in the skin to maintain the redox balance and also to counteract abnormal oxidative stress. We will concentrate on the evidence that a local and/or systemic redox dysregulation accompanies the chronic inflammatory disorder events associated to psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis. We will also discuss the fact that several well-established treatments for the therapy of chronic inflammatory skin disorders are based on the application of strong physical or chemical oxidants onto the skin, indicating that, in selected conditions, a further increase of the oxidative imbalance may lead to a beneficial outcome.

Highlights

Epithelial cells are the outermost viable components of the skin and mucous membranes, and are the fundamental generators of highly specialized physicochemical barriers, that is, organized tissues that exist primarily to define and separate distinct compartments of the body with the aim to protect the host in its entirety and preserve single organ functions homeostatically
We will concentrate on the evidence that a local and/or systemic redox dysregulation accompanies the chronic inflammatory disorder events associated to psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis
We will discuss the fact that several well-established treatments for the therapy of chronic inflammatory skin disorders are based on the application of strong physical or chemical oxidants onto the skin, indicating that, in selected conditions, a further increase of the oxidative imbalance may lead to a beneficial outcome

Summary

Introduction

Epithelial cells are the outermost viable components of the skin and mucous membranes, and are the fundamental generators of highly specialized physicochemical barriers, that is, organized tissues that exist primarily to define and separate distinct compartments of the body with the aim to protect the host in its entirety and preserve single organ functions homeostatically. Moving upward from the deepest layers of the epidermis, keratinocytes progressively differentiate and eventually become anucleated corneocytes, formed of cross-linked keratins enclosed within an insoluble matrix of proteins and surrounded by a ceramide-rich lipid envelope. Both protein and lipid components of CE are essential for an optimal barrier function, as demonstrated by genetic defects underlying several human diseases and a number of mouse models [3, 4]

Mechanisms of Redox Balance in the Skin

Redox Imbalance in T Cell-Mediated Skin Inflammation

Findings

Conclusions