DeCure's autonomous Dermatology AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for peeling skin syndrome 4 — screening already-approved drugs against its 1-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease modulePeeling skin syndrome 4 maps to a 1-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 peeling skin syndrome 4 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
The two case reports describe acral peeling skin syndrome as a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by a missense mutation in transglutaminase 5, with additional mutations in CSTA also linked. In one report, two East-African siblings developed continuous peeling of palms and soles from the first year of life, worse on soles than palms and worse in the younger sibling; occlusion and sweating worsened the peeling. The other report notes that cleavage occurs within the horny layer or between the horny and granular layers, favoured by minimal trauma or humidity, and that hyperhidrosis, erythema, pigmentation, hyperkeratosis, vesicles and blisters can be present, especially in early years, making differential diagnosis from epidermolysis bullosa simplex difficult.
No treatment for acral peeling skin syndrome is tested or described in these abstracts. Two papers discuss chemical peels for cosmetic resurfacing of photoageing, scarring, and pigmentary disorders in the general population, using glycolic acid and trichloroacetic acid on nonfacial skin of more than 3100 patients. Those peels are not applied to peeling skin syndrome, and the abstracts give no data on any drug or intervention for the condition itself.
What is still missing is any clinical trial of a treatment for acral peeling skin syndrome, any patient stratification by genotype (TGM5 versus CSTA mutations), and any funding directed at testing a therapy in this specific population.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Australasian Journal of Dermatology · 2017 · 114 citations · open access
Chemical peels: A review of current practice
AbstractChemical peels belong to a group of cutaneous resurfacing procedures that are used in the treatment of photoageing, inflammatory dermatoses, epidermal proliferations, pigmentary disorders and scarring. This review describes best current practice, highlights recent advances in chemical peel technology and discusses the recommended uses for different peel types. It also presents the results of a survey of the chemical peeling practices of 30 Australian dermatologists.
Chemical Peel of Nonfacial Skin Using Glycolic Acid Gel Augmented with TCA and Neutralized Based on Visual Staging
AbstractBACKGROUND: Until recently, standard techniques for laser or chemical peeling have not always provided consistent results when applied to the nonfacial skin. OBJECTIVE: The author describes a more controlled chemical peel technique for nonfacial skin using 70% glycolic acid gel combined with 40% trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The method has given consistently good results on the skin of the neck, chest, arms, hands, back, and other nonfacial skin. METHODS: More than 3100 patients were given skin peels of the neck, chest, and other areas of the body as indicated. Seventy percent glycolic acid gel was applied to the areas to be peeled, then immediately augmented with 40% TCA. Each area was carefully monitored for the end point and then neutralized with copious amounts of 10% sodium bicarbonate solution. The end point was determined by visual observation using a six-stage classification to determine the degree of peeling. RESULTS: Clinical results were excellent, with smoother skin texture, decreased wrinkling and striae, and fading of lentigines and other pigmentary abnormalities. There was excellent blending into peeled facial skin and into adjacent areas of nonpeeled skin. Complications were minimal. CONCLUSION: This technique can provide the benefits of skin peeling to nonfacial skin with excellent cosmetic results and minimal complications.
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.
International Journal of Dermatology · 1999 · 5 citations
Peeling skin syndrome
AbstractA 26‐year‐old white man presented with migratory peeling patches that had been present since birth. He stated that his condition was continuous and asymptomatic. There was no marked seasonal variation. Parental consanguinity was present. His parents were first cousins, but were unaffected by peeling skin syndrome. He had four brothers and two sisters. The only affected brother, an 18‐year‐old man, had an identical history and clinical findings. Physical examination showed widespread discrete peeling skin patches of variable size and shape with underlying erythema ( Fig. 1 ). The palms and soles were also involved. Peeling of the skin was produced easily by rubbing or stroking of the skin. Sheets of superficial epidermis could easily be peeled without bleeding or pain. The oral mucous Peeling skin patches on left arm image membrane, teeth, hair, and nails showed no abnormalities. He was in good general health. A complete blood count, urinalysis, and routine blood chemistry were within normal limits. Serum iron and copper levels were also normal. Plasma and urinary amino acids analyzed by paper chromatography did not show deviations. There was no eosinophilia. A skin biopsy specimen showed slight hyperkeratosis and thinning of the granular cell layer. Parakeratosis, acanthosis, and spongiosis were absent. The stratum corneum was separated from the underlying stratum granulosum. Hyperpigmentation was observed at the basal cell layer. A perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate and a few eosinophils were found in the upper dermis ( Fig. 2 ). Direct immunofluorescence studies did not reveal any immunoglobulin or complement deposition. Superficial perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate, and separation of the stratum corneum from the underlying stratum granulosum (hematoxylin and eosin, ×100) image
European Journal of Pediatric Dermatology/PD. European journal of pediatric dermatology · 2018 · 0 citations
Acral peeling syndrome.
AbstractThe acral peeling syndrome (APS) is an inherited autosomal recessive skin disorder that affects the hands and feet. It is characterized by intracorneal or between the horny and granular layer cleavage favored by minimal trauma or humidity. APS is due to a homozygous mutation of the gene encoding for transglutaminase 5 (TGM5). TGM5 plays a significant role in the cross-linkages of structural proteins that form the corneum scaffold and is particularly represented at the extremities. APS is also linked to mutations of other genes, especially CSTA which encodes for cystatin A. APS is heterogeneous also clinically due to the existence of generalized variant and localized forms of the face (2), due to the possible presence of hyperhidrosis (1) as in our case, erythema, pigmentation, hyperkeratosis (2), vesicles and blisters especially in early years, making the differential diagnosis from epidermolysis bullosa simplex difficult.
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.
