Thursday, 27 November 2014

Scientists use stem cells to correct skin defects

Three separate studies by scientists in the US, Europe and Japan have raised hopes that the methods could be used to develop treatments for a range of problems, including epidermolysis bullosa.
It is a disorder where sufferers are born with extensive blistering and patches of missing skin.
They are left with extremely fragile skin for all of their lives.
In the first study, the researchers used Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) - adult cells that are reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state.
The scientists took diseased cells from three adult patients with epidermolysis bullosa.
The researchers converted the cells into iPSCs and used specialist tools to edit and fix the mutation in the genetic code responsible for defective collagen protein production, which causes the condition.
They then grew pieces of human skin that produced the correct collagen, and grafted them into mice where they lasted for three weeks.
It is hoped the risk of rejection in humans will be minimal because the skin is made from the patient's own cells.
A second study confirmed these findings in the lab, showing that it is possible to genetically correct iPSCs from mice with epidermolysis bullosa and use the repaired cells to heal blistered skin.
The third study explored the possibility that skin cells taken from epidermolysis bullosa patients, where some have spontaneously reverted back to normal, may also have therapeutic potential for creating skin grafts.
All three papers are published in the journal, Science Translational Medicine.

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