Use of cytokines of the TGF-β superfamily for the treatment, inhibition and/or diagnosis of skin related disorders

A method for improving wound healing and/or wound repair of skin tissue in a mammal, comprising administering an amount of a cytokine effective to improve wound healing and/or wound repair of skin tissue, wherein said cytokine is selected from the group consisting of GDF-5 or a part thereof wherein said part includes the 7 cysteine region and said GDF-5 or part thereof is modified by changing a cysteine required for dimer formation to another amino acid resulting in a monomeric cytokine and retains the wound healing and/or wound repair activity of the mature protein, to a mammal in need of wound healing or wound repair of skin tissue such that wound healing and/or wound repair of skin tissue is improved.