A (leaky?) barrier: Tight junction proteins in skin diseases

Tight junction proteins have been shown to be involved in barrier function of the skin. In the stratum granulosum they form typical barrier-forming TJ structures, in deeper layers they might form other structures and fulfil additional functions. This review summarizes our knowledge about TJ and TJ proteins in mammalian skin and their involvement in skin diseases such as ichthyosis, psoriasis, and bacterial infections. Their putative suitability as new targets for improving drug delivery is discussed.

Section editor:Michael Roberts – School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia