Description

We are developing in vitro skin disease models using normal human cells or cells derived from patients to simulate diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, vitiligo, skin aging, skin cancers, and DNA damage caused by radiation from cancer treatments. The models will become progressively more complex, starting from 2D and moving to 3D printing, and will include the incorporation of immune cells like mast cells and macrophages.

Developing in vitro skin disease models using normal human cells or patient-derived cells represents a significant advancement in skin research. This is particularly important for studying complex dermatological conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, vitiligo, and acne. These models provide a more accurate representation of skin biology, allowing researchers to explore disease mechanisms, drug responses, and potential therapies. 

Incorporating the microbiome into 3D in vitro skin disease models enhances our understanding of skin diseases, especially those with an inflammatory component like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In vitro studies of cancer invasion as an organ on a petri dish open up the possibility of evaluating cancer progression in a controlled environment and studying cancer treatments such as drugs or radiation. Cell-to-cell and cell-to-microbiome crosstalk can be analyzed to investigate the influence of the skin microbiome on skin homeostasis.

Objectives

We propose:

• To investigate the inflammatory processes and bacterial interactions characteristic of skin inflammatory conditions, including neuro-mediators.
• Models of pigmentation and dysmetabolism in vitiligo.
• Dermal fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and immune cells to study the crosstalk of immune cells in the dermis.
• 3D models to study the radiation reaction and assess the microbiome's influence in generating inflammation in HS, AD, and acne or maintaining correct skin homeostasis.
• To study tumor behavior and wound healing using patient-derived skin explants.
• To analyze the lipid, metabolite, and skin protein profile as biomarkers of inflammatory, rare diseases and porphyria.

Annual objectives

1. Increase in scientific publications in indexed journals.  
2. Establishment of national and international research networks, measurable by the number of co-development contracts.  
3. Application for and/or winning of competitive grants.
4. Increase in the number of public or private funding for research projects related to the specific themes of the Research Line.
5. Increase in specialized ECM (Continuing Medical Education) training, both in-house and external, including international, for the dissemination of scientific results.