DeCure's autonomous Dermatology AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for acral peeling skin syndrome — screening already-approved drugs against its 2-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleAcral peeling skin syndrome maps to a 2-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for acral peeling skin syndrome is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
cystatin A (CSTA) — CSTA is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet apo structuredrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 3KSE · 1.71 Å · ligand none (apo structure). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Acral peeling skin syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis caused by a missense mutation in transglutaminase 5. The skin peels at the separation of the stratum corneum from the stratum granulosum. Two East-African siblings developed continuous peeling of the palms and soles from the first year of life, more severe on the soles than palms and worse in the younger sibling; occlusion and sweating worsened the peeling. Sporadic cases occur in African populations, and there is variability in time of presentation and clinical severity even within families.
Two further cases presented with spontaneous asymptomatic peeling skin limited to the acral surfaces, especially the soles. Skin biopsy showed slight separation between the granular and corneal layers with no inflammation. Both were treated with emollient, and a slight improvement was noticed. No quantitative outcome measures such as response rates or survival data are reported in any of these case descriptions.
A 2023 review of the syndrome provides no new trial data. A separate 2019 study on chemical peeling for acne treatment analyses preference and satisfaction according to peeling type, but that work concerns acne, not acral peeling skin syndrome, and no results from that study apply to the genetic condition.
What is still missing is any controlled trial of a drug or topical agent for acral peeling skin syndrome, any validated outcome measure for peeling severity, and any patient stratification beyond clinical observation. No drug has been tested in a formal study for this condition.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
BMC Dermatology · 2012 · 19 citations · open access
Acral peeling skin syndrome in two East-African siblings: case report
AbstractBACKGROUND: Acral peeling skin syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis due to a missense mutation in transglutaminase 5. The skin peeling occurs at the separation of the stratum corneum from the stratum granulosum. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of two siblings who developed continuous peeling of the palms and soles from the first year of life. This peeling was more severe on the soles than palms and on younger sibling than elder sibling. Peeling is worsened by occlusion and sweating. CONCLUSIONS: Sporadic cases of Acral Peeling Skin Syndrome occur in African population. There is variability in time of presentation and clinical severity even within families.
Journal of Korea Society of Ingrielogy · 2019 · 1 citations
A Study on the Effect and Satisfaction of Acne Treatment Using Chemical Peeling
AbstractBased on the preceding papers using peelings for acne treatment, this study analyzes the preference and satisfaction of acne treatment according to the type of peeling, the prior study on acne treatment effects using chemical peeling, and the current status of awareness and management of acne treatment methods, and it is necessary to develop a proper treatment program according to acne skin condition using chemical peeling, through the recognition and management of acne treatment methods. Through development and technology improvement, we hope that appropriate peeling methods depending on acne skin condition can be selected and utilized as the basis for accurate treatment methods and education systems.
Medical Journal of Clinical Trials & Case Studies · 2019 · 0 citations · open access
Acral Peeling Skin Disease: About 2 Cases
AbstractAcral peeling skin syndrome is a rare, autosomal, recessive genodermatosis characterized by painless spontaneous exfoliation of the skin of the hands and feet at a subcorneal or intracorneal level. We are reporting 2 cases of spontaneous asymptomatic peeling skin limited to the acral surfaces especially the soles of the feet. Skin biopsy showed slight separation between the granular and corneal layers, with no inflammation. Both of them were treated with emollient and a slight improvement has been noticed
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
