Decision letter: Type XVII collagen coordinates proliferation in the interfollicular epidermis

The study examined the role of Type XVII collagen (COL17) in the regulation of interfollicular epidermis (IFE) homeostasis and its connection to Wnt signaling, with implications for skin aging. It found that COL17 deficiency led to transient hyperproliferation in neonatal mice, which decreased over time, and suggested a potential anti-aging role for COL17. However, the study faced criticism for the weak link between Wnt signaling and the observed phenotype, the transient nature of hyperproliferation, and discrepancies between in vivo and in vitro findings. Despite its high quality, the study required further validation and additional experiments to strengthen its conclusions and clarify the role of COL17 in preventing oncogenesis.