Abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic, recurrent and inflammatory skin disease with complicated pathogenesis and related to genetic allergy and environmental factors. The abnormality of keratinocytes (KCs) can lead to abnormal expression of keratin, and then, to the dysfunction of epidermal barrier. In AD, KC secretes the massive thymic stromal lymphopoietin, tumor necrosis factor-α, as well as interleukins such as IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-18. KC can also express pattern recognition receptors that produces and maintains the inflammatory responses through innate immune system in AD. In addition, lack of expression of antimicrobial peptides may increase skin susceptibility to infection with viruses, bacteria and fungi in AD patients. The update of the relationship between keratinocytes and atopic dermatitis is reviewed.

Key words: atopic dermatitis, keratinocytes, skin barrie