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Chemerin is a key player in antimicrobial defense in skin

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 21, pages 638–640 (2024)Cite this article

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The skin is the first line of defense to prevent entry of pathogenic bacteria from the environment and their dissemination to internal organs. This crucial function is accomplished mostly by keratinocytes, which serve as a physical barrier and produce antimicrobial peptides. In addition, several types of innate and adaptive immune cells localize within the skin, where they exert their sentinel functions. The disruption of skin integrity enables the entry of pathogenic microorganisms into the underlying tissue and the beginning of a complex cascade of immune reactions.

Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacterium that is responsible for many types of skin and soft tissue infections in humans. Abscesses are a frequent manifestation of S. aureus infections, and neutrophils are arguably the most important cellular defense against invading bacteria. Neutrophils are recruited from the blood circulation to the skin as a result of a complex process that includes the activation of pattern recognition receptors and the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, TNFα, IL-17 and chemokines. Among these ligands, CXCR2 ligands, such as CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL5 and CXCL8, are known to play major roles in neutrophil recruitment [1]. Host cells also produce antimicrobial peptides that have direct activity against S. aureus, such as cathelicidins, defensins and chemerin [2].

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Acknowledgements

The authors apologize to colleagues whose work inspired this review but who could not be cited owing to space limitations. We thank A. Soriani for assistance in the artwork for images created with BioRender.com. This study was supported by AIRC-IG 2023 (ID 29244), PRIN-2022 (20228KZKE3) and the European Union - Next Generation EU in the context of The National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Investment Partenariato Esteso PE8 “Conseguenze e sfide dell’invecchiamento”, Project Age-It (Aging Well in an Aging Society).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory Affiliated to Institute Pasteur-Italia, Rome, Italy

    Silvano Sozzani

  2. Department of Surgery, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Francesca Sozio

  3. Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Annalisa Del Prete

  4. IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

    Annalisa Del Prete

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  1. Silvano Sozzani
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Correspondence to Silvano Sozzani.

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Sozzani, S., Sozio, F. & Del Prete, A. Chemerin is a key player in antimicrobial defense in skin. Cell Mol Immunol 21, 638–640 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41423-024-01159-5

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