The Immune Functions of Keratinocytes in Skin Wound Healing

The document from November 20, 2020, reviews the immune functions of keratinocytes, which are the predominant cell type in the skin, during the process of wound healing. It explains that keratinocytes are not just structural cells but also play a significant role in the immune response to skin injury by interacting with immune cells through cytokines, chemokines, and extracellular vesicles, and by directly interacting with T cells via antigen presentation. The review also discusses the production of antimicrobial peptides by keratinocytes, which are essential for killing pathogens and aiding in wound repair, and the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate these immune functions, including histone modifications and non-protein-coding RNAs. The authors suggest that keratinocytes contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic wound inflammation and that understanding their immune roles could lead to new treatments for wounds.