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Molecular Mechanisms of Skin Autoimmunity and Hypersensitivity
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Molecular Mechanisms of Skin Autoimmunity and Hypersensitivity

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 11626

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Chak-Sing Lau

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Interests: role of dendritic cells in SLE pathogenesis; molecular regulatory mechanisms of dendritic cell functions; mechanistic studies of cellular immuno-dysregulation in SLE; evaluation of the clinical outcome of SLE
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Philip Hei Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Interests: anaphylaxis; drug hypersensitivity; immunodeficiency

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Our skin is the largest organ of the body and first defensive barrier against the external environment. It is also regarded as an important immune organ, with resident immune cells of the skin responsible for immune surveillance and homeostasis – balancing tolerance with autoimmunity or hypersensitivity. Therefore, the failure or breakdown of such critical processes plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune and hypersensitivity disorders. Predominantly, cutaneous diseases such as chronic spontaneous urticaria, pemphigus and psoriasis contributed greatly to our understanding of skin autoimmunity, while many hypersensitivity disorders are shown to result from the breakdown of the immune tolerance of skin.

This Special Issue will focus on the pathomechanisms, epidemiology, diagnostics, clinical consequences and management of various immune dysfunctions affecting the skin. Both autoimmune/hypersensitivity skin conditions, as well as systemic autoimmune conditions with skin manifestations, will be included. We welcome both original research manuscripts as well as insightful review articles. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Atopic dermatitis
  • Chronic spontaneous urticaria
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Drug-related hypersensitivity
  • Pemiphoid
  • Pemphigus
  • Psoriasis
  • Scleroderma
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Vasculitis

Prof. Dr. Chak-Sing Lau
Dr. Philip Hei Li
Guest Editors

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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
  • autoimmunity
  • urticaria
  • allergy
  • hypersensitivity
  • genetics

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 162 KiB  
Editorial
Shedding Light on Skin Autoimmunity: More than Just Skin Deep
by Philip Hei Li and Chak-sing Lau
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(15), 12077; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms241512077 - 28 Jul 2023
Viewed by 470
Abstract
Our skin is the largest organ of the body and the foremost defensive barrier against the external environment [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Skin Autoimmunity and Hypersensitivity)

Research

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20 pages, 4778 KiB  
Article
The Antimicrobial Peptide Cathelicidin Exerts Immunomodulatory Effects via Scavenger Receptors
by Ryo Amagai, Toshiya Takahashi, Hitoshi Terui, Taku Fujimura, Kenshi Yamasaki, Setsuya Aiba and Yoshihide Asano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(1), 875; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms24010875 - 03 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2498
Abstract
An active form of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, LL-37, has immunomodulatory and stimulatory effects, though the specific pathways are not clear. The purpose of this study was to identify the cellular pathways by which LL-37 amplifies the inflammation induced by damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). [...] Read more.
An active form of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, LL-37, has immunomodulatory and stimulatory effects, though the specific pathways are not clear. The purpose of this study was to identify the cellular pathways by which LL-37 amplifies the inflammation induced by damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). We performed DNA microarray, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and proximity ligation assays using cultured keratinocytes treated with LL-37 and/or the DAMP poly(I:C), a synthetic double-stranded RNA. In contrast to the combination of LL-37 and poly(I:C), LL-37 alone induced genes related to biological metabolic processes such as VEGFA and PTGS2 (COX-2). Inhibition of FPR2, a known receptor for cathelicidin, partially suppressed the induction of VEGFA and PTGS2. Importantly, VEGFA and PTGS2 induced by LL-37 alone were diminished by the knockdown of scavenger receptors including SCARB1 (SR-B1), OLR1 (SR-E1), and AGER (SR-J1). Moreover, LL-37 alone, as well as the combination of LL-37 and poly(I:C), showed proximity to the scavenger receptors, indicating that LL-37 acts via scavenger receptors and intermediates between them and poly(I:C). These results showed that the broad function of cathelicidin is generally dependent on scavenger receptors. Therefore, inhibitors of scavenger receptors or non-functional mock cathelicidin peptides may serve as new anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Skin Autoimmunity and Hypersensitivity)
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Graphical abstract

22 pages, 3780 KiB  
Article
The Extracts of Dendrobium Alleviate Dry Eye Disease in Rat Model by Regulating Aquaporin Expression and MAPKs/NF-κB Signalling
by Jiawei Ling, Chung-Lap Chan, Chi-Yan Ho, Xun Gao, Sin-Man Tsang, Ping-Chung Leung, Jiang-Miao Hu and Chun-Kwok Wong
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11195; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms231911195 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2569
Abstract
Dry eye is one of the most common ocular surface diseases caused by tear film instability and ocular surface damage due to an abnormal quality or quantity of tears. Inflammatory factors can initiate relevant transduction signalling pathways and trigger the inflammatory cascade response, [...] Read more.
Dry eye is one of the most common ocular surface diseases caused by tear film instability and ocular surface damage due to an abnormal quality or quantity of tears. Inflammatory factors can initiate relevant transduction signalling pathways and trigger the inflammatory cascade response, resulting in ocular surface inflammation. It has been shown that the active ingredients in Dendrobium, such as polysaccharides, alkaloids and phenols, have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour and immunity-boosting effects, and Dendrobium officinale extract can improve glandular secretion function, increase salivary secretion and increase the expression level of water channel protein in salivary glands in patients with dry eye syndromes. We investigated the in vitro cytoprotective effect of Dendrobium extracts in sodium chloride induced hyperosmotic conditions in human cornea keratocytes (HKs). Results showed that Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo water extract (DOW) and Dendrobium loddigesii Rolfe water extract (DLW) could upregulate the expression of aquaporins (AQP)5 protein, thus exerting a repairing effect by promoting cell migration. Furthermore, oral administration of DOW and DLW enhanced tear production in rats and exerted a protective effect on ocular surface damage. DOW and DLW could upregulate the expression of AQP5 and mucin (muc)5ac proteins in the lacrimal gland and reduce the inflammatory response. DOW and DLW inhibited the activation of the corresponding mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and NF-KB pathway, thereby playing a role in improving dry eye symptoms. This study provides a new perspective on dry eye treatment, and DOW and DLW may be potential therapeutic agents for dry eye. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Skin Autoimmunity and Hypersensitivity)
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7 pages, 430 KiB  
Communication
Serum Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Platelet Activating Factor and Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria—A Pilot Study in Adult Patients
by Krzysztof Gomułka and Wojciech Mędrala
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 9631; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23179631 - 25 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1291
Abstract
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a skin disease characterized by the presence of wheals, angioedema, or both for at least 6 weeks. Although, CSU is often regarded as autoimmune in nature, its etiology is not fully explained and interactions between various small molecules [...] Read more.
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a skin disease characterized by the presence of wheals, angioedema, or both for at least 6 weeks. Although, CSU is often regarded as autoimmune in nature, its etiology is not fully explained and interactions between various small molecules are still taken under account. The aim of this research was to investigate the mean serum concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet activating factor (PAF), and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) in relation to the disease activity and pruritus intensity in adult patients with CSU. Fifteen patients with CSU and 15 healthy subjects participated in this pilot study. Blood samples were taken to examine the mean serum levels of VEGF, PAF, and EDN by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA). The Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) and The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to assess the disease activity and the pruritus intensity, respectively. Obtained results revealed that VEGF, PAF, and EDN concentrations were higher in patients with CSU compared with those of the control group, but only for VEGF it was statistically significant (p = 0.008). However, levels of all investigated cytokines were not significantly correlated neither with the disease activity nor with the pruritus intensity. Our results showed higher serum levels of VEGF, PAF, and EDN among CSU patients which may highlight a functional role of these cytokines in the disease’s pathogenesis. In contrast, VEGF, PAF, or EDN might not be useful to reflect the severity of symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Skin Autoimmunity and Hypersensitivity)
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Review

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14 pages, 1131 KiB  
Review
Modulation of Immune Cells as a Therapy for Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
by Jorge A. Soto, Felipe Melo-González, Claudia A. Riedel, Susan M. Bueno and Alexis M. Kalergis
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10706; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms231810706 - 14 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2117
Abstract
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is an autoimmune disorder like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Both SLE and CLE characterize autoantibody secretion and immune cell recruitment. In particular, CLE can be divided into three more frequent types, varying in the severity of the skin lesions [...] Read more.
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is an autoimmune disorder like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Both SLE and CLE characterize autoantibody secretion and immune cell recruitment. In particular, CLE can be divided into three more frequent types, varying in the severity of the skin lesions they present. The role of type I IFN was shown to be one of the leading causes of the development of this pathology in the skin. Different treatments have been developed and tested against these different variants of CLE to decrease the increasing levels of CLE in humans. In this article, a literature revision discussing the similarities between SLE and CLE is carried out. In addition, new advances in understanding the development of CLE and the leading treatments being evaluated in animal models and clinical trials are reviewed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Skin Autoimmunity and Hypersensitivity)
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10 pages, 714 KiB  
Review
In Vitro, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo Models for the Study of Pemphigus
by Roberta Lotti, Claudio Giacinto Atene, Emma Dorotea Zanfi, Matteo Bertesi and Tommaso Zanocco-Marani
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(13), 7044; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23137044 - 24 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1980
Abstract
Pemphigus is a life-threatening autoimmune disease. Several phenotypic variants are part of this family of bullous disorders. The disease is mainly mediated by pathogenic autoantibodies, but is also directed against two desmosomal adhesion proteins, desmoglein 1 (DSG1) and 3 (DSG3), which are expressed [...] Read more.
Pemphigus is a life-threatening autoimmune disease. Several phenotypic variants are part of this family of bullous disorders. The disease is mainly mediated by pathogenic autoantibodies, but is also directed against two desmosomal adhesion proteins, desmoglein 1 (DSG1) and 3 (DSG3), which are expressed in the skin and mucosae. By binding to their antigens, autoantibodies induce the separation of keratinocytes, in a process known as acantholysis. The two main Pemphigus variants are Pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus. Several models of Pemphigus have been described: in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo, passive or active mouse models. Although no model is ideal, different models display specific characteristics that are useful for testing different hypotheses regarding the initiation of Pemphigus, or to evaluate the efficacy of experimental therapies. Different disease models also allow us to evaluate the pathogenicity of specific Pemphigus autoantibodies, or to investigate the role of previously not described autoantigens. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of Pemphigus disease models, with the main focus being on active models and their potential to reproduce different disease subgroups, based on the involvement of different autoantigens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Skin Autoimmunity and Hypersensitivity)
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