Natural Killer Cells in Atopic and Autoimmune Skin Diseases

January 2010 in “ Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ”

Dagmar von Bubnoff, Emmanuel Andrès, François Hentges, Thomas Bieber, Tatiana Michel, Jacques Zimmer

natural killer cells alopecia areata atopic dermatitis psoriasis pemphigus vulgaris T<sub>H</sub>2 cytokine IFN-γ NK cells interferon gamma

TLDR NK cells play a role in skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis.

Natural killer (NK) cells were traditionally known for targeting tumor and virally infected cells, but research expanded their role to include involvement in skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, alopecia areata, and pemphigus vulgaris. In allergic diseases, NK cells contributed to immune deviation through T<sub>H</sub>2 cytokine production. In psoriasis, they played a pathophysiologic role by producing IFN-γ. Overactivation of NK cells was observed in alopecia areata and pemphigus vulgaris. Although the field was still developing, evidence suggested that NK cells actively participated in these diseases, indicating a broader role in immune system functions beyond their traditional associations.

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