Applications of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Skin Organoids in Dermatology

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived skin organoids, which include hair follicles, sebaceous glands, nerves, fat, and melanocytes, offer significant potential for dermatological research and clinical applications. They can be used to study skin development and disease, perform high-throughput drug screens, and potentially serve as transplantation material for treating wounds or other skin conditions, including alopecia and vitiligo. However, challenges such as the lengthy differentiation process, resulting heterogeneity, immature state of organoids, limited culture longevity, and variability in hair follicle formation must be addressed. The development of universal-donor iPSC lines and optimization of differentiation protocols are crucial for clinical translation. Despite these hurdles, skin organoids could become valuable tools for advancing dermatologic research and medicine.