The skin: an indispensable barrier

Proksch, Ehrhardt; Brandner, Johanna M.; Jensen, Jens‐Michael

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0625.2008.00786.x

Cited by 2,054Dermatology and Skin DiseasesAdvancements in Transdermal Drug DeliverySkin and Cellular Biology Research

The skin: an indispensable barrier

Proksch, Ehrhardt, Brandner, Johanna M., Jensen, Jens‐Michael·2008·Experimental Dermatology

DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2008.00786.x

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Abstract

Abstract: The skin forms an effective barrier between the organism and the environment preventing invasion of pathogens and fending off chemical and physical assaults, as well as the unregulated loss of water and solutes. In this review we provide an overview of several components of the physical barrier, explaining how barrier function is regulated and altered in dermatoses. The physical barrier is mainly localized in the stratum corneum (SC) and consists of protein‐enriched cells (corneocytes with cornified envelope and cytoskeletal elements, as well as corneodesmosomes) and lipid‐enriched intercellular domains. The nucleated epidermis also contributes to the barrier through tight, gap and adherens junctions, as well as through desmosomes and cytoskeletal elements. During epidermal differentiation lipids are synthesized in the keratinocytes and extruded into the extracellular domains, where they form extracellular lipid‐enriched layers. The cornified cell envelope, a tough protein/lipid polymer structure, resides below the cytoplasmic membrane on the exterior of the corneocytes. Ceramides A and B are covalently bound to cornified envelope proteins and form the backbone for the subsequent addition of free ceramides, free fatty acids and cholesterol in the SC. Filaggrin is cross‐linked to the cornified envelope and aggregates keratin filaments into macrofibrils. Formation and maintenance of barrier function is influenced by cytokines, 3′,5′‐cyclic adenosine monophosphate and calcium. Changes in epidermal differentiation and lipid composition lead to a disturbed skin barrier, which allows the entry of environmental allergens, immunological reaction and inflammation in atopic dermatitis. A disturbed skin barrier is important for the pathogenesis of contact dermatitis, ichthyosis, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

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The stratum corneum fulfils the primary barrier function of the epidermis.
“This layer is known as the stratum corneum (Figure 1) and fulfils the primary barrier function of the epidermis, although the lower epidermal layers also contribute [5].”
From The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. (2017) · cites this paper as [5]
Skin barrier maturation is accomplished by sequential and coordinated expression of various skin barrier proteins, such as FLG and LOR.
“Skin barrier maturation is accomplished by sequential and coordinated expression of various skin barrier proteins, such as filaggrin (FLG) and loricrin (LOR) [7].”
From Antioxidant Artemisia princeps Extract Enhances the Expression of Filaggrin and Loricrin via the AHR/OVOL1 Pathway (2017) · cites this paper as [7]

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Authors: Proksch, E., Brandner, J. M., & Jensen, J.
Affiliations: University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (DE)
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (DE)
Corresponding author: Proksch, Ehrhardt
ORCID: Proksch, Ehrhardt
Venue: Experimental Dermatology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2008-11-11
Volume: 17
Issue: 12
Pages: 1063-1072
ISSN: 0906-6705 (ISSN-L)
1600-0625
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2008.00786.x
OpenAlex: W2054083814
Cited by: 2,054
References: 5
Citations by year: 2026: 154 · 2025: 195 · 2024: 146 · 2023: 126 · 2022: 136 · 2021: 138 · 2020: 124 · 2019: 116 · 2018: 111 · 2017: 103 · 2016: 104 · 2015: 107 · 2014: 111 · 2013: 112 · 2012: 90
FWCI: 9.72
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Experimental Dermatology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatology and Skin Diseases
Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Advancements in Transdermal Drug Delivery
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Skin and Cellular Biology Research
Keywords: skin barrier function, stratum corneum, cornified envelope, corneocytes, corneodesmosomes, epidermal differentiation, ceramide, filaggrin, keratin filaments, tight junctions, desmosomes, extracellular lipids, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, ichthyosis, psoriasis, barrier dysfunction, cytokines, cyclic AMP, calcium
MeSH terms: Epidermal Cells, Filaggrin Proteins, Animals, Cell Communication, Epidermis, Humans, Intercellular Junctions, Models, Biological, Permeability, Skin Diseases, Skin Physiological Phenomena, Signal Transduction

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The skin: an indispensable barrier

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