The skin as a site of initiation of systemic autoimmune disease: new opportunities for treatment

J Invest Dermatol. 2006 Jun;126(6):1209-12. doi: 10.1038/sj.jid.5700238.

Abstract

Dendritic cells are the coordinators of the adaptive immune response. Chronic activation of skin dendritic cells by keratinocyte expression of CD40 ligand (CD40L; CD154) leads to autoimmunity. In this issue, systemic administration of tacrolimus is shown by Loser et al. to effectively treat autoimmunity in a murine model involving transgenic keratinocyte expression of CD40L.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Calcineurin Inhibitors
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Mice
  • Skin / cytology
  • Skin / immunology*
  • Skin Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Skin Diseases / immunology
  • Tacrolimus / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Calcineurin Inhibitors
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Tacrolimus