T-cell subsets in the skin and their role in inflammatory skin disorders

Abstract

T lymphocytes (T-cells) are major players of the adaptive immune response. Naive T-cells are primed in the presence of cytokines, leading to polarization into distinct T-cell subsets with specific functions. These subsets are classified based on their T-cell receptor profile, expression of transcription factors, surface cytokine and chemokine receptors, and their cytokine production, which together determine their specific function. This review provides an overview of the various T-cell subsets and their function in several inflammatory skin disorders ranging from allergic inflammation to skin tumors. Moreover, we highlight similarities of T-cell responses across different skin disorders, demonstrating the presence of similar and opposing functions for the different T-cell subsets. Finally, we discuss the effects of currently available and promising therapeutic approaches to harness T-cells in inflammatory skin diseases for which efficacy next to unwanted side-effects provide new insights into the pathophysiology of skin disorders.