Cutaneous cell-mediated immunity

Cutaneous cell-mediated immunity describes the aspects of the immune response in the skin that are dependent on the coordinated action of T cells (often CD4+ Th1 and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes), dendritic cells (including Langerhans cells and dermal dendritic cells), and other immune cells such as macrophages, mast cells, and keratinocytes[1][2][3][4]. This process underlies delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions (such as contact dermatitis), is essential for protection against certain pathogens (notably intracellular pathogens like viruses), and is also involved in immune surveillance against skin cancers. Its dysregulation is implicated in a variety of inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and allergic contact dermatitis[1][2][3][4]. The term itself does not refer to a discrete molecular entity or druggable target, but to a multi-cellular physiological process. This entry describes an immune process, not a single molecule, protein, or receptor. For drug targeting, interest is commonly placed on the individual components (e.g., specific cytokine receptors, T cell antigens), not the overall process called “cutaneous cell-mediated immunity” itself[1][2][3][4].

Other names

cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivitycutaneous T cell immunityskin cell-mediated immunity