A Novel Animal Model of Desmoglein 1 (Dsg1) Deficiency Reveals an Essential Role for Dsg1 in Epidermal Barrier Formation

In 2018, researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to create a mouse model lacking Desmoglein 1 (Dsg1), a protein crucial for skin barrier function. These Dsg1-deficient mice displayed symptoms of barrier dysfunction, such as peeling skin and early death. The study found that the skin of these mice had lower levels of differentiation markers like Loricrin and Filaggrin, disorganized epidermis, abnormal desmosomes, widened intercellular spaces, and a thinner epidermis by an average of 10 µm compared to normal mice. The findings confirmed the vital role of Dsg1 in epidermal structure and could help in understanding diseases associated with Dsg1 deficiency.