Cutaneous Abnormalities
Recent research has linked ferroptosis with several skin diseases, such as skin homeostasis disorders, skin cancers, infectious skin diseases, hereditary skin disorders, skin inflammation, as well as autoimmune skin disorders. Protheragen is a leader in the research space of diseases of iron metabolism, providing integrated and comprehensive services ranging from therapeutics development to preclinical studies. We concentrate on the complex interplay of skin disorders and iron metabolism diseases to deliver comprehensive insights and integrated services in the creation of novel therapeutic approaches.
Overview of Cutaneous Abnormalities
Skin serves as one of the most important protective organs of the body. It protects from internal and external assaults, minimizes the loss of water and essential nutrients, and helps to sustain skin physiology. The skin barrier’s structural protective elements are composed of keratinocytes, some internal fibrous proteins, and certain lipids of the skin. Changes in the balance of structural components may disrupt the balance of skin physiology and lead to various skin disorders.
Fig.1 Keratinocyte ferroptosis induces proinflammatory cytokine secretion. (Liu, L., et al., 2023)
Iron Metabolism Abnormalities in Cutaneous Abnormalities
Ferroptosis, a form of cell death caused by the buildup of intracellular iron ions and the processes of lipid peroxidation, is increasingly showing relevance in skin disease processes. Concerning dermatopathology, the regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis comprise the intricacies of iron balance, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and the equilibrium of lipid metabolism. Disturbances within these frameworks may precipitate malfunction or necrosis of skin cells.
Fig.2 Ferroptosis plays a role in diverse skin pathologies. (Wang, K., et al., 2024)
For instance, inflammation-associated oxidative stress in inflammatory skin disorders may intensify the accumulation of iron ions and lipid peroxidation, triggering ferroptosis. In autoimmune skin disorders, paradoxical immune response may result in an imbalance in iron metabolism, enhancing ferroptosis. In skin neoplasms, ferroptosis might be associated with tumor cells' altered metabolism alongside the microenvironment's constituents.
Therapeutics Development for Cutaneous Abnormalities
| Diseases | Drug Name | Mechanism of Action | Targets | Research Phase |
| Psoriasis | Shikonin (SHK) | Minimize inflammation, oxidative stress, and iron buildup to inhibit ferroptosis in psoriatic skin. | Ferroptosis | Preclinical |
| Psoriasis | Liproxstatin-1 | Modulating inflammation and oxidative stress within keratinocytes to restore immune functions. | Ferroptosis | Preclinical |
| Vitiligo | Curcumin | Modulating immune alterations, leveraging its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities to protect melanin cells. | ROS/free radicals | Preclinical |
| UVA Radiation-Induced Skin Damage | Deferoxamine | To remove detrimental labile iron from skin fibroblast and keratinocyte cultures. | Iron overload | Preclinical |
| Skin Ulcer | MFGE8-NPs | Prevent vascular endothelial cells from ferroptosis induced by mitochondrial mitophagy. | CD13 | Preclinical |
Disclaimer: Protheragen focuses on providing preclinical research services. This table is for information exchange purposes only. This table is not a therapy plan recommendation. For guidance on therapy options, please visit a regular hospital.
Our Services
Based on our extensive knowledge of iron metabolism, Protheragen provides an advanced, one-stop solution for creating novel therapies for cutaneous abnormalities associated with iron imbalances. We provide a complete set of services in the preclinical drug development services, which includes developing diagnostics and therapeutics, as well as disease modeling. We also offer comprehensive preclinical services such as pharmacokinetic and drug safety evaluation, to promote the transformation of concepts into applications.
Therapeutic Development Services
Animal Model Development Services for Cutaneous Abnormalities
The development and use of numerous animal models enable us to perform mechanistic analysis, efficacy testing, and safety profiling for potential therapeutics. At our company, we offer specialized services for the development of animal models that are designed to provide robust and predictive platforms for the analysis of the intricate relationships of iron metabolism with cutaneous abnormalities.
| Animal Models | Diseases | Types |
| Card14 mutant model | Psoriasis | Genetically engineered model |
| Imiquimod-induced model | Psoriasis | Chemical-induced model |
| Psoriasis SCID-mouse model | Psoriasis | Xenotransplantation Model |
| ABCA12-deficient model | Ichthyosis | Genetically engineered model |
| Monobenzone-induced model | Vitiligo | Chemical-induced model |
| CD8+ T-cell Adoptive Transfer Model | Vitiligo | Immunologically-induced model |
| UVB irradiation/progesterone-induced model | Melasma | Multi-factor induced animal model |
Pharmacokinetics and Drug Safety Evaluation Services
Work with Protheragen to speed up your drug research and development relating to cutaneous abnormalities associated with iron metabolism. If our services are of interest to you, get in touch with us today and find out how our integrated services can help you realize your novel therapies.
References
- Liu, Lihao et al. "Ferroptosis: Mechanism and connections with cutaneous diseases." Frontiers in cell and developmental biology 10 (2023): 1079548.
- Le, Jiayuan et al. "Molecular and therapeutic landscape of ferroptosis in skin diseases." Chinese medical journal 137.15 (2024): 1777-1789.