EGFL7-overexpressing epidermal stem cells promotes fibroblast proliferation and migration via mediating cell adhesion and strengthening cytoskeleton.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like family members mediate a wide range of biological activities including cell proliferation and migration. Increasing evidence indicated that EGF plays an important role in the process of wound healing by stimulating fibroblast motility. The aim of this study was to see whether EGF-like domain 7 (EGFL7)-overexpressing epidermal stem cells (EGFL7-ESCs) would promote fibroblast proliferation and migration.

Epidermal stem cells (ESCs) accelerate diabetic wound healing via the Notch signalling pathway.

Chronic, non-healing wounds are a major complication of diabetes. Recently, various cell therapies have been reported for promotion of diabetic wound healing. Epidermal stem cells (ESCs) are considered a powerful tool for tissue therapy.

Effects of skin-derived precursors on wound healing of denervated skin in a nude mouse model.

Denervated skin could result in impaired healing of wounds, such as decubitus ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers. Other studies indicated that cutaneous fiber density is reduced after inner nerve transection and that neuropeptide level depletes after denervation, leading to reduced cell proliferation around the wound and thus wound healing problems. Recent studies have revealed that skin-derived precursors (SKPs), which form a neural crest-related stem cell population in the dermis of skin, participate in cutaneous nerve regeneration.

Directed differentiation of skin-derived precursors into fibroblast-like cells.

Skin-derived precursors (SKPs), which are located at skin's dermis, display multi-lineage potential and can produce both neural and mesodermal progeny in vitro. SKPs are considered to take part in dermal reconstruction and may be an important source of fibroblast during wound repairing. To explore the possibility of differentiation of SKPs into fibroblasts, the 3(rd) passage SKPs were treated with 0, 20, 40, 100, or 500 ng/ml human recombinant connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) for 48 h or treated with 100 ng/ml CTGF for 0, 24, 48, 72, or 96 h.

An improved method for the isolation and culture of rat epidermal stem cells.

The management of burns and injuries using novel treatment strategies involving epidermal stem cells (ESC) requires a better understanding of the biology of these cells, in particular, their isolation and the maintenance of their unique characteristics in culture. The purpose of this study was to describe an improved method for isolating putative ESC from fetal rat skin and to maintain them long term in culture. Single ESC suspensions were obtained from fetal rat skin by enzyme digestion containing 0.

Effects of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on burn injury healing in a mouse model.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) transplantation on the improvement of burn wound healing.

Method: Human BM-MSCs were injected into the skin of the mouse models, and the new blood vessels growth, the engraftment of BM-MSCs and the speed of healing were observed. Moreover the body weight and activity were tested after BM-MSCs transplantation.

BMP-7 attenuates TGF-β1-induced fibroblast-like differentiation of rat dermal papilla cells.

Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) show phenotypic plasticity during wound healing. The multipotency of DPCs is well recognized, but the signaling pathways that regulate the differentiation of these cells into fibroblasts are poorly understood. A preliminary experiment showed that transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) can induce DPCs to differentiate into fibroblast-like cells, which suggests that DPCs may be a source of wound-healing fibroblasts.

Differentiation of rat dermal papilla cells into fibroblast-like cells induced by transforming growth factor β1.

Background: The origin of wound-healing fibroblasts is still debated. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs), which are an important population of stem cells for the regeneration of hair follicles, play a considerable role in cutaneous wound healing. Based on the plasticity of DPCs in wound healing, we hypothesized that DPCs may contribute to the fibroblast population of wound repair.

Fibroblast growth factor-binding protein facilitates the growth and migration of skin-derived precursors.

Background: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are important regulators of cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation during wound healing. FGF-binding protein (FGF-BP) plays a critical role in activating FGFs by releasing them from the extracellular matrix. Although previous studies have demonstrated a pivotal role for FGF-BP in wound healing and angiogenesis, little is known about the biologic effects of FGF-BP on skin stem cells that contribute to wound healing.

Attenuation of alpha1 collagen production with antisense ribonucleic acid in cultured hypertrophic scar fibroblasts.

Background: It has been demonstrated that hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs) overexpress collagen messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein, especially alpha1 collagen. Antisense nucleic acids are effective in inhibiting harmful or uncontrolled gene expression, suggesting that antisense ribonucleic acid (RNA) can effectively downregulate the expression of alpha1 collagen gene and attenuate the scars.

Aims: This study was conducted to observe the effect of recombinant plasmid pREP9-COL1 on alpha1 collagen expression in HSFs and clarify the prospect of antisense RNA on scar treatment.

Effect of asiaticoside on hypertrophic scar in the rabbit ear model.

Background: Previous observations suggested that asiaticoside had a possible antiscaring effect. However, the precise pathological mechanism still remain unknown. We questioned whether asiaticoside might alleviate the formation of hypertrophic scar by affecting the expression of Transform growth factor beta (TGF-beta)/Smad signaling.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) alleviates the scar of the rabbit ear model in wound healing.

Studies suggest a possible antiscarring effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) during wound healing. However, little is known about the precise pathological mechanisms of bFGF. In particular, there is only limited information available about the mechanism of exogenous administration of bFGF to scar formation.

Expression of Smad protein by normal skin fibroblasts and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts in response to transforming growth factor beta1.

Background: Smad proteins are important intracellular mediators of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling. Little has been known about the specific relationship between TGF-beta and TGF-beta/Smad signaling in hypertrophic scars.

Objective: The objective was to investigate the expression of Smads and the specific relationship between TGF-beta and TGF-beta/Smad signaling in hypertrophic scars.

Experimental study on repairing of nude mice skin defects with composite skin consisting of xenogeneic dermis and epidermal stem cells and hair follicle dermal papilla cells.

Objective: To investigate the influence of hair follicle dermal papilla cells (DPCs) on biological features of composite skin.

Methods: In the test group, xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix was employed as the frame, DPCs were seeded on the subcutaneous side, and epithelial stem cells onto the dermal papilla side of the dermal frame so as to construct a composite skin. In the control group, there was no DPC in the frame.

A study of using tissue-engineered skin reconstructed by candidate epidermal stem cells to cover the nude mice with full-thickness skin defect.

Objective: To study and explore the feasibility of using candidate epidermal stem cells with reconstruct tissue-engineered skin for a skin defect.

Methods: After the candidate epidermal stem cells were selected directly by rapid adhesion to type IV collagen within 10min from keratinocytes isolated from foreskin epidermis, the TES was constructed by seeding large-scale cultured candidate epidermal stem cells onto a fibroblast-containing dermal substrate, then grafted onto athymic immunodeficient mice with full-thickness skin defects. All specimens were harvested after 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks of transplantation to evaluate by gross, histological, transmission electron microscopic and immunohistochemical techniques its potential to reconstitute a full-thickness skin defect.

[Isolation and differentiation characteristics of dermal multipotent stem cells from humans of different ages cultured in vitro].

Objective: To study isolation, identification and differentiation characteristics of dermal multipotent stem cells from human of different age in vitro culture.

Methods: Skin samples( 1 cm x 1 cm) were harvested from fetus, infant, adult and elderly. The original clones were screened in stem cell medium.

[Influence of skin-derived progenitor cell combining with hyaluronic acid on the wound healing of diabetic rat].

Objective: To study the effect of skin-derived progenitor cell (SKP) combined with hyaluronic acid( HA) on the wound healing in diabetic rats.

Methods: SKP of Spraque-Dawley (SD) neonate rats were isolated and cultured and mixed with HA. The differentiation characteristics of SKP in the culture were observed.

[Effects of citrus reticulata blanco extract on fibroblasts from human hypertrophic scar in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effects of citrus reticulata blanco extract on the proliferation and collagen metabolism of fibroblasts from human hypertrophic scar.

Methods: Human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts from two burn patients obtained from plastic surgery were cultured in vitro and divided into experimental group (n = 12, with basic culture medium and 2.5, 5.

[Protective effects of urinastatin on organ function in patients with severe burn].

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of urinastatin on organ function in severe burn.

Methods: Seventy-two cases with comparative severity in burn injury were randomly divided into urinastatin treatment group (n=36) and control group (n=36). Patients in control group received routine therapy, while those in treatment group received intravenous dripping of urinastatin twice a day for 5 to 7 days.

[Influence of aerosols on the expression of cyclin B1, cyclin C and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in wound tissue healing of burned rat models].

Objective: To investigate the influence of aerosols on the expression of cyclin B(1), cyclin C and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in wound tissue healing of burned rat models.

Methods: Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were inflicted as the deep partial thickness burn models. Rats were randomly divided into experimental group and control group.

[Clinical study and pathological examination on the treatment of deep partial thickness burn wound with negative charge aerosol].

Objective: To investigate the effect of negative charge aerosol (NCA) on the treatment of burn wound.

Methods: Patients with superficial or deep partial thickness burn only were enrolled in the study, and they were randomly divided into trial group (T, including 180 cases of superficial thickness burn and 100 cases of deep partial thickness burn), control group (C, including 30 cases with superficial thickness burn and 30 with deep partial thickness burn), and self control group (SC, including 10 cases with superficial thickness burn and 10 with deep partial thickness burn). The patients in T and SC groups were treated with NCA for 1.

[A preliminary study on the identification and distribution of epidermal stem cells in different degrees of burn wounds in scalded rats].

Objective: To investigate the distribution of epidermal stem cells (ESCs) in different degrees of burn wounds in scalded rats.

Methods: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were employed in the study. First degree (I), shallow (shallow II) and deep partial thickness (deep II) and full thickness burn wounds (III) were created on the rat skin.