title: Structure and function of the epidermis related to barrier properties.
abstract: The most important function of the skin is the formation of a barrier between the "inside" and the "outside" of the organism, which prevents invasion of pathogens and fends off chemical assaults as well as the unregulated loss of water and solutes. The physical barrier is mainly localized in the stratum corneum, which consists of protein-enriched cells and lipid-enriched intercellular domains. Any modifications in epidermal differentiation and lipid composition results in altered barrier function, a central event in various skin alterations and diseases. This contribution presents a brief description of the structure of the skin, paying attention to the most important components responsible for skin barrier function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Second University of Naples, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Adone
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buommino
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Gregorio
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.forename: Ronni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D010539:Permeability; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D008055:Lipids