title: Human skin engages different epidermal layers to provide distinct innate defense mechanisms.
abstract: Keratinocytes are able to sense bacteria or bacterial products leading to a rapid defense reaction by the increased expression of antimicrobial peptides and cytokines. Recent data by Percoco and collaborators published in Experimental Dermatology indicate that bacteria colonizing the skin surface induce a differential spatial expression pattern of antimicrobial peptides and cytokines. Using laser capture microdissection followed by real-time PCR as well as immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy, the authors provide evidence that antimicrobial peptides such as human beta-defensin (hBD)-2 and -3 were more strongly induced in the uppermost epidermal layers, whereas the main induction of cytokines such as IL-1beta and IL-6 occurred in the lower parts of the epidermis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simanski
authors.forename: Regine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gläser
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harder
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D016207:Cytokines
keywords: antimicrobial peptides; cytokines; skin explants; skin infection