Epidermal Barrier Recovery Is Delayed in Mast Cell-Deficient Murine Models KitW-sh/W-sh, Mcl-1fl/fl, and Mas-TRECK

The epidermal barrier plays a crucial role in protection against environmental hazards (Elias, 2008). It is primarily located in the epidermis and predominantly composed of keratinocytes, that undergo a differentiation process to form the stratum corneum (SC), which prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and defends against pathogens and allergens (Elias, 2008). The SC is commonly described using the brick-and-mortar-model, where corneocytes act as bricks, and the lipid matrix serves as mortar (Elias, 2008).