Effects of Surfactants on the Innate Immune System

We will use tape-stripping methods to determine the level of antimicrobial peptides (specifically LL-37) present on the human skin after washing with different commercially available hand soaps. First we will do a baseline tape-stripping procedure to measure the amount of LL-37 on subjects' forearms. Tape stripping involves applying small, round tapes (CuDerm, Dallas, TX) to the skin, massaging them for about 10 second, and then removing them. This process is repeated 9 times for each tape. After doing baseline tape stripping samples, each participant's forearms will be washed with a different soap. The soap will be rinsed off, and the skin allowed to dry. After the forearms are dry (about 5 minutes later), repeat tape-stripping will be performed. This tape-stripping process will then be repeated 4 hours later, and then 24 hours later as well. Results of the LL-37 expression at each time point will then be compared between soaps.