Warp Speed Ahead! Technology-Driven Breakthroughs in Skin Immunity and Inflammatory Disease

J Invest Dermatol. 2021 Jan;141(1):15-18. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.05.084. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Abstract

The skin's physical barrier is reinforced by an arsenal of immune cells that actively patrol the tissue and respond swiftly to penetrating microbes, noxious agents, and injurious stimuli. When unchecked, these same immune cells drive diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and alopecia. Rapidly advancing microscopy, animal modeling, and genomic and computational technologies have illuminated the complexity of the cutaneous immune cells and their functions in maintaining skin health and driving diseases. Here, we discuss the recent technology-driven breakthroughs that have transformed our understanding of skin immunity and highlight burgeoning areas that hold great promise for future discoveries.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / immunology*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / pathology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Immunity, Cellular*
  • Skin / immunology*
  • Skin / pathology