Skin antigen-presenting cell (Skin APC) (Skin APC)

Skin antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are a heterogeneous population of immune cells, including epidermal Langerhans cells and dermal dendritic cells, that serve as the primary sentinels of the cutaneous immune system. Their main biological role is to capture antigens from the environment or damaged tissue, process them, and migrate to skin-draining lymph nodes to present these antigens to naive T cells, thereby initiating adaptive immune responses or maintaining self-tolerance (Nestle et al., 2009, Nature Reviews Immunology). In various pathologies, such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis, these cells can become overactive, driving chronic inflammation through the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the activation of pathogenic T-cell subsets (Kissenpfennig & Guilliams, 2010, Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine). Conversely, in the context of skin cancer, their function may be suppressed, allowing for immune evasion by the tumor. Therapeutic interventions targeting skin APCs include topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors to reduce their activation in inflammatory diseases, as well as the use of adjuvants in intradermal vaccines to enhance their ability to stimulate protective immunity (Kim et al., 2012, Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology). Because "Skin antigen-presenting cells" refers to a broad cell population rather than a single protein, it is considered a cellular target rather than a specific molecular target.

Other names

Cutaneous antigen-presenting cellSkin APCLangerhans cellDermal dendritic cell

Modulation of antigen uptake, processing, and presentation; inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production; and regulation of immune cell migration to regional lymph nodes.