Important Factors to Know About Epidermal T-Cells

T-cell receptors play a crucial role in maintaining skin homeostasis. These cells extend dendrites to the basal and corneum layers of the epidermis. Along with langerhan cells, they form a large part of the immunity within the layers of the epidermis.

Here are six things you need to know about epidermal T-cells.

1. T-cells mature in the thymus gland and are an integral part to the immune system.
2. The thymus gland is large during childhood. Though as we age the thymus gland reduces its size. Stress also affects the thymus gland and it becomes smaller.
3. When we have these changes to the thymus gland there is less maturation of T-cells. This affects the immune system and it does not have the same strength.
4. An epidermal T-cell has a dendritic shape though once they activated, they change their shape and become round. They then secrete a range of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors.
5. This activation increases keratinocyte proliferation and recruitment of infiltrating leukocytes. This is an important factor as it increase wound repair as well as the immunity of the skin.
6. T-cells are an important part of the epidermis immune system, they regulate the skin's inflammatory responses and recognise stressed keratinocyte cells.

Epidermal T-cells form a critical part to the skin's immune system, they have the ability to modulate immune responses that are initiated and expressed in skin. They play and important role in maintaining the immunologic integrity of the skin.

Head to my online course to deepen your understanding of the importance of having a healthy immune system and healthy immune cells.

Yours in skin,

Gay Wardle