Cutaneous immune tolerance and autoimmunity

As the most important defense barier of the body, skin is an organ which can be a target for both cellular and humoral immune reactions. Immune tolerance is defined as the unresponsiveness of organism to antigens belonging to itself, immuntolerant organism does not show an immunologic reaction to its self antigens. When immune tolerance is corrupted, organism begins to show immunologic response to autolog antigens generating autoimmunity. Cutaneous autoimmunity is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies and autoreactive T cells. There are mechanisms to avoid the loss of immune tolerance of the host to itself. In this review, new immunologic elements and mechanisms proposed to participate in the development of cutaneous autoimmune diseases and cutaneous tolerance are discussed along with common autoimmune skin diseases.