title: [Cutaneous innervation: anatomy and physiology. Neuropeptides].
abstract: The skin is involved in the tactile sensations and hydric and thermic regulation. This structure contains immunological cells with inflammatory activity in addition to several bioactive molecules. This review will focus primarily on the relation of cutaneous innervation in these processes and its capacity to release neuropeptides as functional molecules. This paper will discuss the organization of the motor and sensitive fibres, the biosynthesis, molecular modifications, regulation and the functions of the best well known neuropeptides. The specific function of these molecules in the neurogenic inflammation and how the nervous system can influence in several skin diseases is explained. In conclusion, the cutaneous innervation can affect processes such as inflammation, cellular proliferation and healing. This possibility is likely to be mediated by neuropeptides. In the future, a growing list of neuropeptides will be compiled and the precise role in cutaneous physiology will be known, but the most important of this knowledge is probably the repercussion in the therapies of some cutaneous diseases.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Biología Molecular y Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, España.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Casado-Olea
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides