Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.8
3.9
Journals
Biomedicines
Special Issues
Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Innovations in Skin and Appendage Disorders
share announcement

Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Innovations in Skin and Appendage Disorders

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Biology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 2007

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Xuming Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
2. Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
3. Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
Interests: developmental biology; cutaneous biology; stem cell; epigenetic regulation; dry eye disease

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The skin and its appendages, including hair follicles and exocrine glands, are intricate organs that require precise molecular regulation for proper development, homeostasis, and repair.  Dysregulation in these processes can lead to a wide range of disorders, from common dermatological conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, and alopecia to more severe malignancies like melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma. This Special Issue, "Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Innovations in Skin and Appendage Disorders", aims to explore the underlying mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies for these conditions, bridging the gap between fundamental research and clinical translation.

Key topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Developmental and homeostatic mechanisms;
  • Disease drivers in psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, alopecia, and cutaneous cancers;
  • Innovative therapies, such as small-molecule inhibitors, biologics, and regenerative approaches;
  • Genetic and epigenetic factors in skin disorders.

We invite contributions that explore the molecular mechanisms regulating skin and appendage development, homeostasis, and tumorigenesis. By integrating multidisciplinary approaches, we aim to advance our understanding of these complex processes and improve therapeutic outcomes for patients. This Special Issue provides a platform for researchers and clinicians to share their latest findings and innovative strategies, fostering a collaborative environment dedicated to advancing the field of dermatology and cutaneous biology.

Dr. Xuming Zhu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • skin disorders
  • skin development
  • skin pathophysiology
  • tumorigenesis
  • psoriasis
  • atopic dermatitis
  • acne
  • innovative therapies
  • molecular dermatology
  • translational skin research

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

17 pages, 2917 KB  
Article
Terminalia chebula Retz. Fruit Extract Promotes Murine Hair Growth by Suppressing 5α-Reductase and Accelerating the Degradation of Dihydrotestosterone
by Ting Cui, Xiaoqing Wang, Qi Wu, Ye Zhong, Fenglou Wang, Yue Zou, Yushu Wang, Shanshan Jiang and Gang Ma
Biomedicines 2025, 13(11), 2584; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13112584 - 22 Oct 2025
Viewed by 994
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common hair loss disorder in dermatological practice. Its primary pathogenesis involves the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by type II 5α-reductase upon reaching dermal papilla cells (DPCs). DHT impairs DPCs’ activity and inhibits hair growth. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common hair loss disorder in dermatological practice. Its primary pathogenesis involves the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by type II 5α-reductase upon reaching dermal papilla cells (DPCs). DHT impairs DPCs’ activity and inhibits hair growth. Although the FDA-approved drugs finasteride and minoxidil show certain efficacy, they are also associated with severe side effects. This study aims to explore the effects of Terminalia chebula fruit extract (TCFE) on hair growth and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: We investigated the therapeutic potential of TCFE in hair follicle regeneration, employing a multi-level experimental approach combining in vitro analyses of DPCs, in vivo animal models of AGA, and ex vivo cultures of human hair follicles and scalp tissue. Results: First, RNA-seq analysis and RT-PCR validation revealed that TCFE treatment activated the Wnt and TGF-β3 signaling pathways in DPCs, particularly upregulating the AKR1C gene family, which is involved in DHT metabolism. TCFE also potently inhibited type II 5α-reductase activity and mitigated DHT-induced damage to DPCs. In an AGA mouse model, TCFE reversed the AGA phenotype with efficacy comparable to finasteride. However, unlike finasteride, TCFE specifically enhanced the expression of AKR1C1 and AKR1C3, indicating a distinct mechanism. Finally, in ex vivo organ cultures, TCFE suppressed hair follicle cell apoptosis, promoted proliferation, and thereby stimulated hair growth. Conclusions: These findings suggest that TCFE is a promising natural treatment for AGA, likely acting through multiple mechanisms, including Wnt pathway activation, 5α-reductase inhibition, and enhanced DHT degradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Innovations in Skin and Appendage Disorders)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

21 pages, 1078 KB  
Article
Potential Risk of Cutaneous Melanoma Attributable to Medication Use: A Mendelian Randomization Approach
by Huiying Wan, Ling Zhong, Jia Su, Qiaofeng Zhao, Mitsutoshi Tominaga, Kenji Takamori, Hang Ma, Tian Xia and Dingding Zhang
Biomedicines 2025, 13(10), 2477; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13102477 - 11 Oct 2025
Viewed by 598
Abstract
Background/Objective: Cutaneous melanoma is a highly heterogeneous malignancy and life-threatening skin cancer with rising global incidence. Although various therapeutic options are available, their clinical efficacy remains limited, highlighting the urgent need for novel strategies that facilitate prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The aim of [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: Cutaneous melanoma is a highly heterogeneous malignancy and life-threatening skin cancer with rising global incidence. Although various therapeutic options are available, their clinical efficacy remains limited, highlighting the urgent need for novel strategies that facilitate prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The aim of this study was to explore the potential causal association between medication use and the risk of developing cutaneous melanomas. Methods: Using summary data from Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWASs), we performed Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal effect of medication use on cutaneous melanoma risk. Exposure data were based on self-reported medication uses from ~320,000 European participants in the UK Biobank. The outcomes included GWAS results from 2824 cutaneous melanoma cases. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with medication use were used as instruments and analyzed with IVW, weighted median, weighted mode, and MR-Egger methods. Sensitivity analyses were used to assess pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Results: The analysis revealed that genetically predicted high use of adrenergics, inhalers, glucocorticoids, and opioids was suggestively associated with a reduced risk of cutaneous melanoma. Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these findings, showing no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy or influence from outliers. Conclusions: The results presented herein suggest that certain medication uses may lower the risk of developing cutaneous melanomas, offering potential new avenues for future prevention and treatment strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Innovations in Skin and Appendage Disorders)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop