Filaggrin
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 12256
Special Issue Editor
Interests: biochemistry and cell biology; cutaneous biology; keratinocyte differentiation; stratum corneum properties and functions; skin inflammatory diseases
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Firstly identified in the late sixties as the “basic histidine-rich protein” and subsequently renamed in 1981, filaggrin (for filament aggregating protein) is now known as a key protein for epidermal barrier functions, and as a biomarker of normal keratinocyte differentiation. During cornification, filaggrin interacts with and promotes aggregation of keratin filaments; then it is degraded into amino-acids that are necessary for the hydration, acidic pH and photo-protective properties of the upper epidermis; a subset of filaggrin molecules is cross-linked to the cornified cell envelope; and filaggrin may display anti-microbial properties. Absence of filaggrin in either reconstructed 3D skin models or knockout mice is detrimental for a correct epidermal architecture and an efficient skin permeability barrier. The complex metabolism of filaggrin involved several post-translational modifications and various enzymes, including proteases and arginine deiminases. Filaggrin and its paralogs of the S100-fused type protein family share a marked bias in amino-acid composition, similar molecular structure with intrinsically disordered regions, and localization of a large precursor into liquid-like membrane-less condensates in the cytoplasm of differentiated keratinocytes. This suggests that liquid-liquid phase separation is a driving force for epidermal barrier formation.
Our interest about filaggrin has grown increasingly when it has been demonstrated that loss-of-function mutations of the filaggrin gene are a strong risk factor for atopic dermatitis and responsible for ichthyosis vulgaris. This profoundly changed the understanding of atopic diseases. Several studies suggest a link between filaggrin gene mutational profile and gastric tumors, as well as prediction of therapy response in carcinomas.
As a whole, filaggrin interests dermatologists, allergists, oncologists and basic researchers of public laboratories and private (pharmaceutical and cosmetic) companies.
This Special Issue aims to publish review articles and original studies, both at the basic and translational levels, to provide a broad up-to-date overview of the importance of filaggrin in pathophysiological processes.
Dr. Michel Simon
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- filaggrin
- keratinocytes
- epidermal barrier
- atopic diseases
- post-translational modifications
- SFTP family
- late differentiation
- biomarker
- ichthyosis
- cancer
