In Vitro Disease Models for Understanding Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis.

Psoriasis (PS) and Atopic Dermatitis (AD) are two of the most prevalent inflammatory skin diseases. Dysregulations in the immune response are believed to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of these conditions. Various parallels can be drawn between the two disorders, as they are both genetically mediated, and characterised by dry, scaly skin caused by abnormal proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes. The use of in vitro disease models has become an increasingly popular method to study PS and AD due to the high reproducibility and accuracy in recapitulating the pathogenesis of these conditions. However, due to the extensive range of in vitro models available and the majority of these being at early stages of production, areas of development are needed. This review summarises the key features of PS and AD, the different types of in vitro models available to study their pathophysiology and evaluating their efficacy in addition to discussing future research opportunities.

Decellularised scaffolds: just a framework? Current knowledge and future directions.

The use of decellularised matrices as scaffolds offers the advantage of great similarity with the tissue to be replaced. Moreover, decellularised tissues and organs can be repopulated with the patient's own cells to produce bespoke therapies. Great progress has been made in research and development of decellularised scaffolds, and more recently, these materials are being used in exciting new areas like hydrogels and bioinks. However, much effort is still needed towards preserving the original extracellular matrix composition, especially its minor components, assessing its functionality and scaling up for large tissues and organs. Emphasis should also be placed on developing new decellularisation methods and establishing minimal criteria for assessing the success of the decellularisation process. The aim of this review is to critically review the existing literature on decellularised scaffolds, especially on the preparation of these matrices, and point out areas for improvement, finishing with alternative uses of decellularised scaffolds other than tissue and organ reconstruction. Such uses include three-dimensional ex vivo platforms for idiopathic diseases and cancer modelling.