Addressing the Peri-Wound Intact Skin of Hard-To-Heal Diabetic Foot Ulcers With Topical Red Deer Conditioned Media (PTT-6) Skin Conditioner: A Case Series on Clinical Efficacy.

Background And Aim: The healing of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) can be hindered by the susceptibility of the surrounding intact skin to pro-inflammatory proteases. A conditioned media, known as PTT-6, derived from mesenchymal stem cells found in the lining of red deer umbilical cords, has been formulated to protect the intact peri-wound skin of DFUs. The aim is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of PTT-6 in managing peri-wound intact skin in hard-to-heal DFUs.

Intraperitoneally Delivered Umbilical Cord Lining Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Improve Survival and Kidney Function in Murine Lupus via Myeloid Pathway Targeting.

To determine the therapeutic efficacy of human umbilical cord lining mesenchymal stromal cells (CL-MSCs) (US Patent number 9,737,568) in lupus-prone MRL/lpr (Fas) mice and elucidate its working mechanisms. A total of 4 doses of (20-25) × 10 cells/kg of CL-MSCs was given to 16-week-old female Fas mice by intraperitoneal injection. Three subsequent doses were given on 17 weeks, 18 weeks, and 22 weeks, respectively.

Upregulation of secretory connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in keratinocyte-fibroblast coculture contributes to keloid pathogenesis.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays a critical role in keloid pathogenesis by promoting collagen synthesis and deposition. Previous work suggested epithelial-mesenchymal interactions as a plausible factor affecting the expression of various growth factors and cytokines by both the epithelial and dermal mesenchymal cells. The aim of this study is to explore the role of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in modulating CTGF expression.

Suppression of transforming growth factor beta/smad signaling in keloid-derived fibroblasts by quercetin: implications for the treatment of excessive scars.

Background: Keloids are characterized by abnormal proliferation and overproduction of extracellular matrix. Quercetin, a dietary compound, has strong antioxidant and anticancer properties. Previous studies by the authors have shown that quercetin inhibits fibroblast proliferation, collagen production, and contraction of keloid and hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts.

Role of IGF system of mitogens in the induction of fibroblast proliferation by keloid-derived keratinocytes in vitro.

Keloids are proliferative dermal growths representing a pathological wound-healing response. We report high proliferation rates in normal (NF) and keloid-derived fibroblasts (KF) cocultured with keloid-derived keratinocytes (KK). IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 mRNA and secreted IGFBP-3 in conditioned media were increased in NF cocultured with KK compared with NF but markedly reduced in KF cocultured with KK or normal keratinocytes (NK).

Fibroblasts cocultured with keloid keratinocytes: normal fibroblasts secrete collagen in a keloidlike manner.

Keloid scars represent a pathological response to cutaneous injury, reflecting a new set point between synthesis and degradation biased toward extracellular matrix (ECM) collagen accumulation. Using a serum-free two-chamber coculture model, we recently demonstrated a significant increase in normal fibroblast proliferation when cocultured with keloid-derived keratinocytes. We hypothesized that similar keratinocyte-fibroblast interactions might influence fibroblast collagen production and examined conditioned media and cell lysate from coculture for collagen I and III production by Western blot, allied with Northern analysis for procollagen I and III mRNA.