Frontiers in Immunology (May 2021)

Resident Memory T Cells in Autoimmune Skin Diseases

  • Grace E. Ryan,
  • John E. Harris,
  • Jillian M. Richmond

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.652191
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Tissue resident memory T cells (TRM) are a critical component of the immune system, providing the body with an immediate and highly specific response against pathogens re-infecting peripheral tissues. More recently, however, it has been demonstrated that TRM cells also form during autoimmunity. TRM mediated autoimmune diseases are particularly destructive, because unlike foreign antigens, the self-antigens are never cleared, continuously activating self-reactive TRM T cells. In this article, we will focus on how TRMs mediate disease in autoimmune skin conditions, specifically vitiligo, psoriasis, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, alopecia areata and frontal fibrosing alopecia.

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