About this Research Topic
The field of neuro-immuno-endocrinology of the skin is currently gaining significant attention due to the bidirectional interactions observed between the skin and the nervous system. Clinical observations have revealed that stressors can trigger skin diseases, exacerbate their symptoms, reduce the duration of remission phases, and even make them more resistant to treatment. When these interactions go awry, disruptions of the skin's function as a barrier organ become visible to third parties, which can lead to stigma and lead to further stress. The relationships between the nervous system, skin, and endocrine and immune cells are under-researched and has enormous potential to become a hot topic in research.
Interestingly, the skin and the nervous system originate from the same embryonic structure, the ectoderm, and are thereby developmentally related. While the epidermis lacks blood or lymphatic vessels, it is densely populated with nerve endings that transmit impulses from the environment to the brain and back to the skin. Likewise, the dermis and subcutis are densely innervated and here close contacts are established to skin appendages, vessels and immunocytes. These interactions could, for example, lead to neurogenic inflammation development in the dermis.
In order to build a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between psychological pressure and dermatoses, researchers ought to pay greater attention to the "brain-organ" axis, especially of barrier organs such as the skin, airways or intestines. Inflammation at body surfaces bordering the environment has been linked to increased mental stress, and this association warrants further investigation. Furthermore, the potential existence of a vicious circle of neuro-immuno-cutaneous interactions should be elucidated via advanced research.
Subtopics that we welcome manuscripts on include, but are not limited to:
- The molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuro-immuno-endocrine interactions in the skin;
- The role of neuro-immuno-endocrine interactions in various skin diseases;
- The impact of psychological distress on skin diseases;
- Skin analogue neuro-immune-endocrine interactions in other organs bordering the environment;
- Potential therapeutic targets in the neuro-immuno-endocrine pathways of the skin.
The Topic Editors declare no conflict of interest.
Interestingly, the skin and the nervous system originate from the same embryonic structure, the ectoderm, and are thereby developmentally related. While the epidermis lacks blood or lymphatic vessels, it is densely populated with nerve endings that transmit impulses from the environment to the brain and back to the skin. Likewise, the dermis and subcutis are densely innervated and here close contacts are established to skin appendages, vessels and immunocytes. These interactions could, for example, lead to neurogenic inflammation development in the dermis.
In order to build a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between psychological pressure and dermatoses, researchers ought to pay greater attention to the "brain-organ" axis, especially of barrier organs such as the skin, airways or intestines. Inflammation at body surfaces bordering the environment has been linked to increased mental stress, and this association warrants further investigation. Furthermore, the potential existence of a vicious circle of neuro-immuno-cutaneous interactions should be elucidated via advanced research.
Subtopics that we welcome manuscripts on include, but are not limited to:
- The molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuro-immuno-endocrine interactions in the skin;
- The role of neuro-immuno-endocrine interactions in various skin diseases;
- The impact of psychological distress on skin diseases;
- Skin analogue neuro-immune-endocrine interactions in other organs bordering the environment;
- Potential therapeutic targets in the neuro-immuno-endocrine pathways of the skin.
The Topic Editors declare no conflict of interest.
Keywords: skin, dermatology, stress, humans, animal models, 3D skin cultures, translational research, neuro-dermatology, neuro-endocrinology of the skin, neuro-immunology of the skin, brain-skin axis, skin-gut axis, HPA-axis systemic, dermal-local
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