The study in The American Journal of Pathology is the first to show microvascular responses to inflammatory stimuli and injury using this system, which has major implications for understanding the critical role of skin blood vessels in inflammation, repair, regeneration, and aging.

The skin is a highly complex organ, as witnessed by its unique microscopic anatomy that includes a plethora of cell types that collaborate to achieve its protective functions. Millions of people worldwide live with skin conditions driven by inflammation, such as psoriasis, as well as disorders that hinder their ability to heal skin wounds, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.