Unraveling the Complexity of Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Skin Diseases: From Molecular Pathways to Targeted Therapies

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 43

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
Interests: clinical or molecular genetics and immunobiology of autoimmune and autoinflammatory skin disorders including, among others, hidradenitis suppurativa and pyoderma gangrenosum; genetics of infectious diseases; genodermatoses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
2. Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Milan, Italy
Interests: neutrophilic dermatoses, including pyoderma gangrenosum, sweet syndrome and amicrobial pustulosis of the folds; autoinflammatory skin diseases; hidradenitis suppurativa; autoimmune bullous dermatoses; connective tissue diseases; chronic urticaria; atopic dermatitis; psoriasis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory skin diseases—such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and pyoderma gangrenosum—represent a heterogeneous group of chronic inflammatory conditions with multifactorial etiologies. While significant strides have been made in recent years, the underlying molecular mechanisms and genotype–phenotype correlations remain only partially understood.

In this edition of our Special Issue, we aim to expand the scope beyond classical omics investigations to embrace a broader and more integrative vision of disease research. Omics technologies—including genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics—continue to play a central role, offering unprecedented insights into disease pathogenesis, patient stratification, and biomarker discovery. In particular, the integration of multi-omics data through advanced bioinformatics and machine learning techniques is paving the way for precision medicine strategies. In addition, we seek to highlight innovative chemoinformatics approaches for the rational design of novel therapeutic compounds targeting key signaling pathways involved in skin inflammation and immune dysregulation. The integration of virtual screening, molecular docking, pharmacophore modeling, and structure-based drug design holds promise for accelerating the development of next-generation treatments with improved efficacy and safety profiles. Moreover, we welcome contributions that address the following topics:

  • The role of the skin microbiome and host–microbe interactions in triggering or modulating immune responses;
  • The impact of environmental exposures, including pollutants and heavy metals, on skin immunity;
  • Advances in ex vivo and in vitro disease modeling, including 3D skin equivalents and organ-on-chip systems;
  • Non-invasive diagnostic tools and circulating biomarkers;
  • Translational studies linking molecular data with clinical outcomes.

This Special Issue invites original research articles, reviews, short communications, and perspectives that explore the multifaceted nature of autoimmune and autoinflammatory skin diseases. Submissions focusing on systems biology, network medicine, and drug repurposing are especially encouraged.

By fostering a multidisciplinary discussion, we aim to contribute to the identification of actionable targets and the development of personalized, mechanism-based therapies for patients suffering from these debilitating conditions.

We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Chiara Moltrasio
Prof. Dr. Angelo Valerio Marzano
Dr. Sergio Crovella
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 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

  • autoimmune/autoinflammatory skin diseases
  • omics
  • bioinformatics
  • pathogenesis
  • tailored medicine

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