Extracellular matrix components in skin (Skin ECM)

The skin extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic and complex network of fibrous proteins, polysaccharides, and glycoproteins that provides structural integrity and biochemical signaling to the dermis and epidermis [4, 13]. Key components include fibrillar collagens (types I and III), elastin, hyaluronic acid, and various proteoglycans like versican and decorin [1, 9]. In healthy skin, the ECM maintains elasticity, tensile strength, and hydration while facilitating cell-matrix interactions essential for wound healing and tissue homeostasis [11, 14]. Dysregulation of ECM components is central to various pathologies, including hypertrophic scarring, chronic non-healing wounds, and genetic disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, as well as inflammatory conditions like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis [5, 15]. Therapeutic strategies targeting the skin ECM range from the use of exogenous fillers and scaffolds to pharmacological agents like retinoids that stimulate endogenous collagen synthesis or collagenase enzymes used for debridement [7, 18]. Additionally, the ECM is a critical target in oncology, where its remodeling influences tumor invasion and therapeutic resistance in skin cancers like melanoma [1, 2].

Other names

Dermal matrixSkin ECMInterstitial matrixBasement membrane componentsMatrisome (skin)

Drugs targeting skin ECM components act through several mechanisms: stimulation of endogenous synthesis (e.g., retinoids), enzymatic degradation of pathological matrix (e.g., collagenase), replacement of lost components (e.g., dermal fillers), or inhibition of matrix-degrading enzymes (e.g., MMP inhibitors) to preserve tissue integrity [7, 15, 17].