Dong Hyo Kim, Ji Young Yoon, Jun Hyo Lee, Myeong-woo Nam, Dae Hun Suh
{"title":"Icariin Regulates Acne Pathophysiology and Extracellular Matrix Protein Synthesis: Implications for Acne Vulgaris and Atrophic Acne Scar Management","authors":"Dong Hyo Kim, Ji Young Yoon, Jun Hyo Lee, Myeong-woo Nam, Dae Hun Suh","doi":"10.1111/exd.70310","DOIUrl":"10.1111/exd.70310","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Icariin, the principal active compound of <i>Epimedium</i> species used in traditional East Asian medicine, exhibits anti-inflammatory and lipid-regulating effects. However, its effects on human sebocytes and dermal fibroblasts, which could be implicated in the management of acne and atrophic scarring, remain unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of icariin on human sebocytes, keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. Icariin's effects on cell viability, lipid synthesis, inflammation, abnormal keratinization and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis were assessed using human SEB-1 sebocytes, HaCaT keratinocytes and Detroit 551 fibroblasts. Icariin modestly promoted the proliferation of SEB-1 sebocytes, HaCaT keratinocytes and Detroit 551 fibroblasts. It reduced mRNA levels of lipogenic and proinflammatory markers in SEB-1 sebocytes and HaCaT keratinocytes. Icariin counteracted arachidonic acid-induced lipogenesis in SEB-1 sebocytes in parallel with modulation of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor/Akt signalling pathway. In Detroit 551 fibroblasts, it enhanced ECM protein expression and reduced the expression of ECM-degrading enzymes, accompanied by upregulation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor and latent transforming growth factor β binding protein 4. In conclusion, <b>t</b>his study demonstrates that icariin modulates key pathophysiological processes of acne and promotes ECM synthesis, suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent for managing both acne and atrophic acne scars.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148344383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qi Zhen, Na Yin, Weiwei Chen, Guangbo Qu, Siyun Yan, Yirui Wang, Zhuo Li, Bingxue Bai, Chengzhi Lv, Jin Zhang, Huaqing Hu, Qijun Jiang, Xiaojing Kang, Yuanhong Xu, Yan Lu, Juan Zhao, Song Wu, Shijie Li, Xia Chen, Ruiqun Qi, Xiaohong Lin, Jianwen Han, Yonghong Lu, Jihai Shi, Ying Qiu, Yiming Fan, Shanshan Li, Fuqiu Li, Yuzhen Li, XingHua Gao, Yang Han, Liangdan Sun
{"title":"Serum DSDNA is Associated With Psoriasis","authors":"Qi Zhen, Na Yin, Weiwei Chen, Guangbo Qu, Siyun Yan, Yirui Wang, Zhuo Li, Bingxue Bai, Chengzhi Lv, Jin Zhang, Huaqing Hu, Qijun Jiang, Xiaojing Kang, Yuanhong Xu, Yan Lu, Juan Zhao, Song Wu, Shijie Li, Xia Chen, Ruiqun Qi, Xiaohong Lin, Jianwen Han, Yonghong Lu, Jihai Shi, Ying Qiu, Yiming Fan, Shanshan Li, Fuqiu Li, Yuzhen Li, XingHua Gao, Yang Han, Liangdan Sun","doi":"10.1111/exd.70291","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70291","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Psoriasis is a recurrent autoimmune disease. No biological factor that is associated with the risk of psoriasis has been definitively identified. The potential role of the immunogen double-stranded (ds)DNA as a trigger of and biomarker for psoriasis warrants exploration. This multicentre case–control study included 3 069 patients with psoriasis and 7 041 healthy controls from 12 regions in China. The associations of the serum dsDNA level with the psoriasis risk and severity were analysed in the overall population. The serum dsDNA level was significantly higher in patients than in controls. Each 0.1 ng/mL increase in serum dsDNA was significantly associated with increased odds of psoriasis (adjusted odds ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.40–1.48; <i>p</i> < 0.001). The optimal serum dsDNA cutoff value for the diagnosis of psoriasis was 1.11 ng/mL, with 61.6% sensitivity and 74.8% specificity. A significant dose–response relationship was observed between the serum dsDNA level and the risk of psoriasis-associated morbidity when using the optimal dsDNA cutoff value as the reference. Serum dsDNA levels were positively associated with higher PASI and BSA scores and the severity of psoriasis. These findings suggest that serum dsDNA level is strongly associated with psoriasis morbidity and severity.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"35 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148282409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eunyoung Seo, Minji Park, Chaeeun Lee, Bo Mi Kang, Jang-Hee Oh, Yoon-Woo Noh, Won-Woo Choi
{"title":"Sphingomonas olei Extracellular Vesicles Promote Hair-Growth Responses Linked to Wnt/β-Catenin Signalling","authors":"Eunyoung Seo, Minji Park, Chaeeun Lee, Bo Mi Kang, Jang-Hee Oh, Yoon-Woo Noh, Won-Woo Choi","doi":"10.1111/exd.70284","DOIUrl":"10.1111/exd.70284","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Hair loss is a common condition with limited therapeutic options, and bacterial extracellular vesicles have recently emerged as potential bioactive mediators in skin biology. Here, we investigated whether an extracellular vesicle-enriched preparation obtained from <i>Sphingomonas olei</i>, a bacterium isolated from healthy human skin (hereafter SoEVs), influences human hair-growth-related responses and whether these effects are associated with Wnt/β-catenin-related signalling. SoEVs were non-cytotoxic to human dermal papilla (DP) cells and upregulated the hair-growth-related factors <i>IGF1</i> and <i>VEGFA</i>. In DP cells, SoEV treatment was accompanied by increased levels of phosphorylated AKT and GSK-3β, and total β-catenin, alongside the induction of canonical Wnt readouts <i>LEF1</i> and <i>AXIN2</i>. In ex vivo cultured human hair follicles, SoEVs promoted hair shaft elongation, counteracted shaft thinning and increased the number of Ki-67–positive cells around the DP. Together, these findings suggest that SoEVs may support human hair-growth-related responses in association with Wnt/β-catenin-related signalling, warranting further mechanistic and in vivo investigation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"35 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148276708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Single-Cell Analysis of Late-Stage Wound-Induced Hair Follicle Neogenesis Reveals Keratinocyte Heterogeneity and Enrichment of Infundibular Basal Keratinocytes","authors":"Mingwei Shang, Huiling Zhu, Qiuyun She, Qian Liufu, Zhuofan Wen, Xia Wang, Ziyuan Tang, Weining Huang, Zhongrong Liu","doi":"10.1111/exd.70300","DOIUrl":"10.1111/exd.70300","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Scarring alopecia remains a major clinical challenge, characterized by irreversible hair follicle (HF) loss and replacement by scar tissue. Wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis (WIHN) serves as a model in which HFs can regenerate following skin wounding. In this study, we characterized the cellular landscape associated with differences in regenerative capacity between small wound (SW) and large wound (LW) tissues at a late regenerative stage (post-wounding day 22, PWD22), a time point at which newly formed hair follicles are already present. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we profiled re-epithelialized wound tissues from SW and LW conditions and identified major cutaneous cell populations, including keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Keratinocytes were further categorized into 8 subpopulations, among which infundibular basal keratinocytes (INFU basal KCs) were increased in LW compared with SW tissues, as validated by immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Pseudotime analysis indicated differences in the temporal expression pattern of the INFU basal KC marker <i>Fst</i> between SW and LW conditions. Cell–cell communication between keratinocytes and fibroblasts showed that extracellular matrix (ECM)–receptor interactions were markedly enriched, while Masson's trichrome staining revealed decreased collagen content in LW. IF staining showed increased COL6A3 expression and decreased FN1 expression in LW tissues. Taken together, our study provides a descriptive single-cell atlas of late-stage wound tissues with differing regenerative outcomes, indicating differences in keratinocyte composition, transcriptional states, and intercellular communication. Collectively, our findings offer a resource for understanding cellular heterogeneity associated with WIHN and may inform future studies aimed at elucidating the mechanisms of hair follicle regeneration in cutaneous repair.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"35 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148276670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beyond the Keratinocyte: PI3Kγ as an Immune Microenvironmental Driver of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma","authors":"Ji Su Lee","doi":"10.1111/exd.70301","DOIUrl":"10.1111/exd.70301","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"35 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148276645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Leonie Rieger-Molitor, Carlo Maj, Silke Redler, Yasmina Gossmann, Stephan Ripke, Lynn Pethukova, Angela M. Christiano, Markus M. Nöthen, F. Buket Basmanav, Regina C. Betz
{"title":"Do Alopecia Areata and Hair Colour Have a Shared Genetic Component?","authors":"Leonie Rieger-Molitor, Carlo Maj, Silke Redler, Yasmina Gossmann, Stephan Ripke, Lynn Pethukova, Angela M. Christiano, Markus M. Nöthen, F. Buket Basmanav, Regina C. Betz","doi":"10.1111/exd.70299","DOIUrl":"10.1111/exd.70299","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Alopecia areata (AA) is a common T-cell mediated autoimmune disorder, which leads to sudden, non-scarring hair loss. An association between hair pigmentation and AA pathogenesis has long been postulated. Recent epidemiological evidence supports this link, indicating that individuals with darker hair colours have a higher risk of AA, while those with lighter hair colours exhibit a lower risk. This study aimed to investigate whether a shared genetic basis between hair colour determination and AA risk underlies this observation. To explore this, we analysed data from our AA genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 16 310 Caucasians from the US and Central Europe and a recently published GWAS of hair colour that involved 343 234 UK Biobank participants. Genetic correlations between the two traits were investigated using both polygenic risk score and linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) analyses. No evidence was found for a strong, broadly shared genetic component for hair colour and AA. However, a suggestive weak inverse association with genetically predicted blond hair and AA risk was observed. Given the modest sample size of the AA-GWAS (~4100 cases), these findings are likely underpowered and should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis-generating, warranting replication in larger, independent cohorts.</p>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"35 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/exd.70299","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148270713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Potential of 3D Skin Models and N/TERT-2G Cell Line in Genetic Research on Autosomal Recessive Nonsyndromic Epidermal Differentiation Disorders","authors":"Hao-Hsiang Hsu-Rehder, Cristina Glocker, Christine Aldrian, Ezgi Dikici, Gesa Sophie Wilde, Mariana Stavila, Nathalie Jonca, Branislav Kollár, Steffen Ulrich Eisenhardt, Judith Fischer","doi":"10.1111/exd.70298","DOIUrl":"10.1111/exd.70298","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Autosomal recessive nonsyndromic epidermal differentiation disorders (AR-nEDDs), also known as autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI), are rare genetic skin diseases that lack curative treatments and can only be managed symptomatically. Their study is hampered by the limited availability of biological samples and donor tissues. Artificial skin models offer a valuable alternative for experimental research. Here, we generated epidermal skin equivalents (ESE) using primary keratinocytes from patients with AR-nEDDs carrying pathogenic variants in <i>ALOX12B</i>, <i>CYP4F22</i>, and <i>CERS3</i>, as well as immortalized N/TERT-2G cells. Whereas primary cells undergo senescence, N/TERT-2G cells offer a promising alternative to overcome this limitation. Histological staining and qPCR were applied to assess key epidermal proteins and AR-nEDD-related gene expression in patient- and control-derived models. Patient-derived ESE reproduced the major histopathological features and protein expression patterns characteristic of AR-nEDDs. In contrast, N/TERT-2G-based models showed earlier expression of 12R-LOX, CYP4F22, and CERS3 proteins in epidermal layers compared to healthy donor equivalents. These findings suggest that N/TERT-2G cells represent a reproducible platform for future gene-editing approaches of modelling epidermal differentiation disorders. However, as they do not inherently carry pathogenic variants, they are particularly suitable for gene-editing approaches such as CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disease modelling. Conversely, patient-derived keratinocyte models remain indispensable for validating disease mechanisms and evaluating therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"35 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/exd.70298","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148249911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Identification of ROBO2 as a Useful Cell Surface Marker for Live Human Dermal Papilla Cell Isolation Utilizing a Novel Culture Condition With WNT and FGF Signalling Activation","authors":"Reina Hayakawa, Ryo Takahashi, Masahiro Fukuyama, Aki Tsukashima, Momoko Kimishima, Yoshimi Yamazaki, Manabu Ohyama","doi":"10.1111/exd.70266","DOIUrl":"10.1111/exd.70266","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The dermal papilla (DP) is essential to hair follicle development and regeneration. Isolation of human DPs still largely depends on manual microdissection and human DP cells (DPCs) lose their intrinsic properties in vitro. Establishing a culture condition that maintains the biological properties of DPCs allows for identification of cell surface markers that enable cell sorting of living human DPCs. A new DPC culture condition was developed using the combination of a WNT activator, CHIR99021, and recombinant FGF9 (CH + F9). Global gene expression profiling and bioinformatic analyses of DPCs grown under this condition were conducted to identify DPC surface markers enabling live DPC isolation. Compared to a conventional culture condition, CH + F9 increased the expression of the representative DPC biomarkers <i>WNT5A</i>, <i>LEF1 and BMP4</i> by 3.4-, 3.8- and 60.5-fold (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and better maintained their expression levels after long-term serial passaging. Aggregated CH + F9-treated DPCs unevenly upregulated DP biomarkers further, suggesting that highly potent DPCs can be enriched using a marker for such cells. Bioinformatics analysis of CH + F9-treated and control DPCs identified cell marker candidates, including roundabout guidance receptor 2 (ROBO2). Importantly, ROBO2<sup>+</sup> DPCs expressing the representative DP biomarkers <i>WNT5A</i>, <i>VCAN</i>, <i>NOG</i> were successfully sorted from mixed cell suspensions of keratinocytes, fibroblasts and DPCs mimicking enzymatically dissociated human skin. These findings suggest that the new culture condition and cell surface marker for human DPCs established in this study provide useful tools for drug discovery and regenerative medicine to address hair loss diseases.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"35 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148224090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
William J. Nahm, Ki-Joong Kim, Eui Namgung, John Koo, Yunha Han, Vincent Falanga
{"title":"Vagus Nerve Stimulation Reduces Cutaneous Inflammation and Proinflammatory Cytokines in Murine Models of Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis","authors":"William J. Nahm, Ki-Joong Kim, Eui Namgung, John Koo, Yunha Han, Vincent Falanga","doi":"10.1111/exd.70297","DOIUrl":"10.1111/exd.70297","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) modulates systemic inflammation through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, but its effects on cutaneous inflammatory diseases remain unexplored. We investigated whether invasive VNS could reduce clinical inflammation and proinflammatory cytokines in murine models of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD). C57BL/6 mice received imiquimod 5% cream to induce psoriasiform inflammation, while NC/Nga mice received 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to induce AD-like inflammation. Acute invasive VNS (5 Hz/5 ms for 5 min) or sham procedures were performed 6 or 24 h before sacrifice. Cutaneous cytokine levels were assessed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining, while systemic inflammation was evaluated by analyzing splenic and plasma cytokines. VNS reduced TNF-α and IL-6 in imiquimod-treated skin at both 6- and 24-h post-stimulation (TNF-α/6 h: 63%, <i>p</i> < 0.01; IL-6/6 h: 63%, <i>p</i> < 0.01; TNF-α/24 h: 69%, <i>p</i> < 0.001; IL-6/24 h: 60%, <i>p</i> < 0.05). In DNCB-treated skin, VNS decreased TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 at 24 h post-stimulation (TNF-α/24 h: 68%, <i>p</i> < 0.001; IL-1β/24 h: 48%, <i>p</i> < 0.05; IL-6/24 h: 66%, <i>p</i> < 0.01). VNS altered cutaneous CD11b-positive macrophage distribution patterns and reduced splenic cytokine levels (TNF-α and IL-1β) in the psoriasis model (TNF-α/6 h: 73%, <i>p</i> < 0.001; 24 h: 46%, <i>p</i> < 0.05) (IL-1β/6 h: 48%, <i>p</i> < 0.01; 24 h: 41%, <i>p</i> < 0.05) while plasma TNF-α decreased in the AD model (24 h: 32%, <i>p</i> < 0.01). This study provides the first evidence that VNS reduces proinflammatory cytokines in inflammatory skin diseases, supporting clinical translation for dermatological applications.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"35 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148224141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}