An in-depth look at cutting-edge research on the body's innate immune system Innate immunity is the body's first line of protection against potential microbial, viral, and environmental attacks, and the skin and oral mucosa are two of the most powerful barriers that which we rely on to stay well. The definitive book on the subject, Innate Immune System of Skin and Oral Mucosa: Properties and Impact in Pharmaceutics, Cosmetics, and Personal Care Products provides a comprehensive overview of these systems, including coverage of antimicrobial peptides and lipids and microbial challenges and stressors that can influence innate immunity. Designed to help experts and newcomers alike in fields like dermatology, oral pathology, cosmetics, personal care, and pharmaceuticals, the book is filled with suggestions to assist research and development. Looking at the many challenges facing the innate immune system, including the impact of topically applied skin products and medications, Innate Immune System of Skin and Oral Mucosa paves the way for next generation treatment avenues, preventative approaches, and drug development.

Skin and oral mucosa both function as barriers to harmful environmental factors. However, clinical observations suggest that these tissues react differently to exposure to environmental insults. Metal exposure in the oral cavity is known to activate the immune system and in some cases results in skin inflammation. Clinical experience has shown that skin exposure can lead to sensitization whereas exposure in the oral mucosa often leads to tolerance. Limited literature is available on oral mucosal immunology. In general, when mucosal immunology is described it is actually referring to gut immunology which has an immunosuppressive character (“tolerance”) compared to the more inflammatory character of skin. The goal of the research described in this thesis was to gain more insight on the local innate immune responses in skin and oral mucosa and to develop a multi-organ approach to study systemic toxicity caused by oral metal exposure. Previous results in our lab have supported the possibility that the innate immune response in the oral mucosa is prone to respond to pathogen exposure acutely and efficiently and thereby eliminate imminent threats immediately as opposed to being tolerant. LC are generally known as immune stimulatory cells whilst there is strong evidence that they can have a more immune regulatory role as they are key players in induction and maintenance of tolerance. Perhaps oral mucosa immunity is not more tolerant or more immune stimulatory but simply differential to skin immunity and supremely adaptable in its response to exogenous insults. In Chapter 2 we describe the most promising organotypic in vitro skin models that are commercially available or being used in a laboratory setting for hazard assessment of potential sensitizers and for investigating the mechanisms behind allergic contact dermatitis.

The Janeway's Immunobiology CD-ROM, Immunobiology Interactive, is included with each book, and can be purchased separately. It contains animations and videos with voiceover narration, as well as the figures from the text for presentation purposes.

The oral mucosa is a challenging environment from an immunological perspective, containing discrete niches with a unique architecture and function that requires precise adjustment of the immune system. Being the port of entry to the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, the oral cavity is also constantly challenged by antigens derived from air and food. Moreover, the oral cavity is the sole tissue of the body harboring a hard surface (i.e. the tooth) that is exposed to the hostile external environment, resulting in the formation of a complex biofilm that has local and systemic effects. To deal with such challenges, the oral immune system aims to prevent the invasion of pathogens/harmful antigens and to tolerate non-pathogenic counterparts in order to maintain homeostasis. In recent years, numerous studies have addressed these fundamental issues, revealing sophisticated mechanisms engaged by the immune system to maintain oral mucosal homeostasis and to combat various immunological insults. Some of these studies have identified novel immunological mechanisms, emphasizing the uniqueness of the oral immune system and the necessity to further investigate its functions.

This book is designed to re-establish the position of the oral cavity and its mucosa at the forefront of defence and maintenance of homeostatic mechanisms that protect against disease not just locally but also systemically. The oral mucosa is a unique collection of tissues that constitutes a highly active environment with its own unique microflora and homeostatic interaction with the innate and adaptive immune responses. As an immune tissue the oral mucosa was somewhat neglected in the past owing to the tendency to assume similarity to the gut mucosa. More recently it has become apparent that the oral mucosa is a complex environment and, like the esophageal mucosa, has more in common with vaginal tissue than with the gut. Furthermore, the ability of the oral mucosa to act as an immune inductive site has made it an attractive area of research in terms of desensitization for allergic reactions and possibly autoimmune responses. In this book, recognized experts in the field provide up-to-date coverage of all aspects of the structure and function of the oral mucosa, reflecting important recent advances in knowledge, including at the molecular level.

This comprehensive, authoritative treatise covers all aspects of mucosal vaccines including their development, mechanisms of action, molecular/cellular aspects, and practical applications. The contributing authors and editors of this one-of-a-kind book are very well known in their respective fields. Mucosal Vaccines is organized in a unique format in which basic, clinical, and practical aspects of the mucosal immune system for vaccine development are described and discussed. This project is endorsed by the Society for Mucosal Immunology. Provides the latest views on mucosal vaccines Applies basic principles to the development of new vaccines Links basic, clinical, and practical aspects of mucosal vaccines to different infectious diseases Unique and user-friendly organization