Focal adhesions in the skin: lessons learned from skin fragility disorders

Focal adhesions are large multiprotein cell-matrix adhesion complexes, which regulate multiple cellular functions, such as adhesion and migration. Their biological significance in skin is underscored by two genetic disorders, the Kindler syndrome and the interstitial lung disease, nephrotic syndrome and epidermolysis bullosa, in which mutations affect focal adhesion proteins, kindlin-1 and the integrin α3 subunit, respectively. Here we provide an overview of what we learned from the study of the molecular mechanisms of these diseases. Emphasis is put on the point of view of the clinician dermatologist.