Figure 2.

Tick saliva components influence cutaneous immunity, wound healing, vasculature and nerve fibers. Tick saliva inhibits innate and adaptive immunological functions by reduction of neutrophil and mast cell function, impairment of immunogenic antigen presentation and increasing the proportion of Th2 cells in human skin. Tick saliva molecules mediate endothelial damage and increased permeability, and inhibit angiogenesis, blood clot formation and disruption of fibrinolysis. Additionally, tick saliva components have inhibitory effects on ECM remodeling and degradation and keratinocyte (KC) re-epithelialization in wound beds.