The skin is a barrier that is constantly exposed to colonizing microbiota, invasive pathogens and allergens. Within the skin, immune cells constantly interact with stroma to avoid microbial invasion and tumor development. The skin immune system is also heavily implicated in common patchy inflammatory diseases such as vitiligo and psoriasis.

 

The Eidsmo Laboratory explores mechanisms that steer health and immunopathology in human skin. In healthy skin, the Eidsmo Laboratory has defined functionally distinct subsets of tissue resident memory T (Trm) cells based on their expression of the integrin CD49a. In diseases such as vitiligo and psoriasis, we have shown the involvement of different subsets of pathogenic Trm cells in the formation of localized disease memories in resolved skin.

We currently focus on how human Trm cells are formed and how these cells impact on their immediate environment. Ultimately, we want to normalise the Trm cell compartment in diseased skin to reach robust and long-term homeostasis.