LAUSR

For decades, the dermatological community has concentrated a bulk of its research efforts on epidermal biology and skin immunology, and only limited attention has been paid to the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM) structure of the dermis and fibroblasts that produce and populate it. This has been partially balanced by the identification of the central role that basement membrane constituents play in a variety of congenital and acquired skin diseases. More recently, technological advances allowed for detailed characterization of dermal matrisome, which is highly architecturally and molecularly complex and provides both structural and non-structural functions. The embedded fibroblasts are the major contributors to the dermal matrisome, with which they also actively interact. They respond to a variety of biomechanical and biochemical cues contained within the ECM, guaranteeing a well-adapted response by skin to any external requirements. In recent years, there has also been a substantial progress in characterizing heterogenous fibroblast populations that play specific and often non-overlapping roles in the crosstalk with numerous other skin-resident cells, including keratinocytes and immune cells, and differentially contribute to wound healing and fibrosis. These recent developments are now driving vibrant research efforts to further our understanding of the roles that fibroblasts and ECM play in controlling skin homeostasis and disease (Figure 1).