E-Book Overview
The skin, being the largest organ of the body, is constantly attacked by a diverse array of pathogenic agents including bacteria, viruses and fungi; it also suffers from solar damage and wide fluctuations in temperature and humidity. In some individuals, the immune system, which normally offers protection against fatal external assaults, can malfunction and cause chronic inflammation in the absence of a known pathogen, resulting in a host of disorders categorized as autoimmune skin diseases. This volume contains a series of 19 review articles on a wide range of autoimmune disease processes in the skin. Featuring disorders of humoral as well as cellular immunity, it covers allergic contact dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus foliaceus, lichen planus, vitiligo, scleroderma, alopecia areata and dermatomyositis.For these diseases, the latest insights into their etiology and pathophysiology as well as therapeutic strategies are presented by experts in the fields of dermatology, genetics, immunology and pathology. In addition, overviews of the skin as an active immune organ and of the immune privilege of the skin are included. Comprehensive and up-to-date, this book is recommended for basic and clinical researchers, allergists, immunologists, dermatologists, internists and anyone interested in autoimmunity.
E-Book Content
Dermatologic Immunity
Current Directions in Autoimmunity Vol. 10
Series Editor
A.N. Theofilopoulos
La Jolla, Calif.
Dermatologic Immunity
Volume Editors
Brian J. Nickoloff Chicago, Ill. Frank O. Nestle London
45 figures, 4 in color, and 25 tables, 2008
Basel · Freiburg · Paris · London · New York · Bangalore · Bangkok · Shanghai · Singapore · Tokyo · Sydney
Brian J. Nickoloff
Frank O. Nestle
Skin Cancer Research Program, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center Room 301, 2160 S. First Ave, Building 112, Maywood, Chicago, Illinois 60153–5385 (USA)
Mary Dunhill Chair of Cutaneous Medicine and Immunotherapy, St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, Division of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, King’s College London School of Medicine at Guy’s, Guy’s Hospital, London (UK)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dermatologic immunity / volume editors, B.J. Nickoloff, F.O. Nestle. p. ; cm.– (Current directions in autoimmunity, ISSN 1422–2132 ; v. 10) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978–3–8055–8391–6 (hard cover : alk. paper) 1. Skin–Diseases–Immunological aspects. 2. Autoimmune diseases. I. Nickoloff, Brian J., 1953– II. Nestle, F.O. (Frank O.) III. Series. [DNLM: 1. Skin Diseases–immunology. 2. Immune System Diseases. W1 CU788DR v.10 2008 / WR 140 D4302 2008] RL97.D475 2008 616.5'071–dc22 2008000638 Bibliographic Indices. This publication is listed in bibliographic services, including Current Contents® and Index Medicus. Disclaimer. The statements, options and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements in the book is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements. Drug Dosage. The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relat