Human skin protein

Human skin protein refers to the collective set of proteins expressed within the various layers of the human skin, including the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. This broad group includes essential structural proteins such as keratins, which form the intermediate filaments of keratinocytes, and collagen and elastin, which provide the dermis with strength and flexibility [1]. Additionally, it encompasses proteins critical for the skin's permeability barrier, such as filaggrin and loricrin, as well as various enzymes and signaling molecules involved in immune surveillance and wound repair [2]. Because the term describes a vast collection of molecules with diverse functions rather than a single molecular entity, it is not considered a specific therapeutic target in a pharmacological context [3]. However, many individual proteins within this category are highly relevant to disease; for instance, mutations in filaggrin are a major risk factor for atopic dermatitis, and the degradation of collagen is a hallmark of skin aging [4]. Therapeutic strategies often involve modulating specific skin proteins, such as using retinoids to influence keratinocyte differentiation or biologics to target inflammatory cytokines within the skin microenvironment [5].

Other names

Skin proteomeDermal proteinsEpidermal proteinsCutaneous proteins

The mechanism of action varies significantly depending on the specific protein being targeted; it may involve the modulation of gene expression to alter keratinocyte differentiation, the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines to reduce skin inflammation, or the enzymatic breakdown of extracellular matrix components to facilitate tissue remodeling [4, 5].