As the largest organ in multicellular organisms, the skin acts as the first line of defense against external stimuli such as mechanical damage, UV irradiation, and pathogen infection, all of which can cause an imbalance of tissue homeostasis and result in the development and progression of skin disorders including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, skin cancer, and impaired wound healing. It is believed that aberrant epidermal differentiation and migration contributes to the development of most skin diseases. However, due to complexity at the cellular, genomic, and genetic level, questions about many skin disorders remain unanswered. For example, it is not fully understood whether the pathogenesis of psoriasis originates from primary dysregulation of skin epidermal cells, aberrant immune responses, or a combination of both. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of most skin disorders is needed to help advance the cutaneous biology field and future clinical applications.
Various therapeutic strategies have been explored and continue to be developed for the treatment of skin diseases. Possible strategies which have shown potential include the use of peptides, biomaterials, and nanoparticles. For example, tylotoin, a small peptide identified from salamander skin, has shown the potential to promote wound-healing ability on a murine model with a full-thickness dermal wound. A photo-cross-linkable heparin-conjugated hyaluronic acid hydrogel preserved the growth factors and cytokines produced by the cells, allowing these paracrine factors to be released into the wound, thus improving wound closure. Delivery of co-receptors in a nanoliposome with FGF-2 encapsulated showed improved diabetic wound healing in a diabetic mouse model. This Research Topic will provide a platform for scientists of different professional fields to communicate recent, promising, and novel research trends implicated in various skin diseases.
As well as Original Research and Reviews, the editors welcome various article types (including Mini-Reviews and Brief Research Reports) focusing on the underlying mechanisms of different skin disorders, skin aging, and skin regeneration, and the development of therapeutic strategies to target them. This Research Topic may include, but is not limited to, the subtopics listed below:
• Development of biomaterials, nanoparticle, or stem-cell-based therapeutic strategies for skin diseases;
• Molecular/cellular regulatory mechanisms of various skin diseases;
• Side effects of current treatments for skin disorders;
• Discovery of novel bioactive peptides with potential therapeutic effects in skin disorders and their underlying mechanisms.
More information on article types accepted by the journal can be found
here.
