The Epidermis: Redox Governor of Health and Diseases

Abstract

A functional epithelial barrier necessitates protection against dehydration, and ichthyoses are caused by defects in maintaining the permeability barrier in the stratum corneum (SC), the uppermost protective layer composed of dead cells and secretory materials from the living layer stratum granulosum (SG). We have found that loricrin (LOR) is an essential effector of cornification that occurs in the uppermost layer of SG (SG1). LOR promotes the maturation of corneocytes and extracellular adhesion structure through organizing disulfide cross-linkages, albeit being dispensable for the SC permeability barrier. This review takes psoriasis and AD as the prototype of impaired cornification. Despite exhibiting immunological traits that oppose each other, both conditions share the epidermal differentiation complex as a susceptible locus. We also review recent mechanistic insights on skin diseases, focusing on the Kelch-like erythroid cell-derived protein with the cap “n” collar homology-associated protein 1/NFE2-related factor 2 signaling pathway, as they coordinate the epidermis-intrinsic xenobiotic metabolism. Finally, we refine the theoretical framework of thiol-mediated crosstalk between keratinocytes and leukocytes in the epidermis that was put forward earlier.