Exosomes in Dermatology: From Skin Homeostasis to Disease

Introduction

The skin is a complex organ maintaining barrier function and homeostasis. Exosomes regulate skin cell communication, contributing to repair processes and disease pathogenesis. This article reviews current knowledge on exosomes in dermatology.

Exosomes in Skin Homeostasis and Repair

• Keratinocyte and fibroblast-derived exosomes regulate proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix remodeling [1].
• Exosomes deliver miRNAs and growth factors essential for wound healing, promoting angiogenesis and inflammation resolution [2].

Exosomes in Skin Diseases

• Psoriasis: Exosomes from psoriatic lesions contain inflammatory mediators and miRNAs that perpetuate keratinocyte hyperproliferation and immune activation [3].
• Atopic Dermatitis: Altered exosomal profiles correlate with barrier dysfunction and Th2-driven inflammation [4].
• Melanoma: Tumor-derived exosomes facilitate immune evasion and metastasis by modulating immune cells and preparing pre-metastatic niches [5].

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications

• Exosomal miRNAs in skin biopsies or serum serve as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and severity assessment.
• Therapeutic exosomes derived from MSCs accelerate wound healing and reduce scarring [6].
• Engineering exosomes to deliver siRNAs or drugs targeting skin tumors shows promise.

Challenges and Future Perspectives

• Need for standardized protocols in skin exosome research.
• Understanding exosome heterogeneity across skin layers.
• Translating preclinical findings into safe clinical treatments.

Conclusion

Exosomes play multifaceted roles in skin biology and disease. Harnessing their potential may revolutionize dermatological diagnostics and therapeutics.

📚 References

1. Chen C, et al. Exosome-mediated communication between keratinocytes and fibroblasts regulates skin repair and homeostasis. J Invest Dermatol. 2018;138(4):855-864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2017.11.010
2. Hu L, et al. Exosomes from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells promote wound healing by enhancing angiogenesis. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2016;7(1):98. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-016-0364-5
3. Zhang L, et al. Exosomal microRNAs derived from psoriasis lesions promote inflammation. J Dermatol Sci. 2020;98(1):40-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdermsci.2019.08.009
4. Kim J, et al. Altered exosomal microRNA profiles in atopic dermatitis patients. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019;143(4):1432-1434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2018.12.1017
5. Peinado H, et al. Melanoma exosomes educate bone marrow progenitor cells toward a pro-metastatic phenotype through MET. Nat Med. 2012;18(6):883-891. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.2753
6. Zhang B, et al. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell exosomes promote cutaneous wound healing. Stem Cells Dev. 2015;24(15):1720-1731. https://doi.org/10.1089/scd.2015.0072