Skin-associated adipocytes in skin barrier immunity: A mini-review

Jingyan Guan; Congxiao Wu; Yunfan He; Feng Lu

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1116548

Skin-associated adipocytes in skin barrier immunity: A mini-review

Front Immunol. 2023 Jan 24:14:1116548. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1116548. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jingyan Guan¹, Congxiao Wu¹, Yunfan He¹, Feng Lu¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Abstract

The skin contributes critically to health via its role as a barrier tissue against a multitude of external pathogens. The barrier function of the skin largely depends on the uppermost epidermal layer which is reinforced by skin barrier immunity. The integrity and effectiveness of skin barrier immunity strongly depends on the close interplay and communication between immune cells and the skin environment. Skin-associated adipocytes have been recognized to play a significant role in modulating skin immune responses and infection by secreting cytokines, adipokines, and antimicrobial peptides. This review summarizes the recent understanding of the interactions between skin-associated adipocytes and other skin cells in maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of skin barrier immunity.

Keywords: adipocytes; adipokines; antimicrobial peptides; infection; skin barrier immunity.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adipocytes
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides*
Cytokines
Epidermis
Skin*

Substances

Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
Cytokines

Grants and funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support for this study from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 82072196, 82102350, and 82002058).