Name: how epidermal stem cells aid skin repair
Uploaded: 2023-04-30T12:09:41.000Z
Duration: 1 min 19 s
Channel: JoVE

Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs are multipotent stem cells that divide and differentiate into new skin cells.
Native EpiSCs maintain skin homeostasis and repair skin injuries. However, these EpiSCs cannot naturally repair severe injuries such as those from third-degree burns, diabetic ulcers, and some vascular diseases.
For such critical wounds, doctors can culture EpiSCs along with the patient&#39;s intact skin tissue on specialized biomaterials to form cultured epidermal autografts or CEAs. The CEAs are placed on the wound, and the EpiSCs in the graft promote wound repair and closure.
As the EpiSCs originate from a patient&#39;s own body, the chances of immune rejection are reduced. They also prevent scar formation during healing.
Studies in animal models have demonstrated that EpiSCs can regenerate other epithelia, such as the cornea, the outermost layer of the eye. Therefore, ongoing research shows the potential of EpiSCs for treating other types of epithelial injuries.

clinical applications of epidermal stem cells

Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells

Epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) are mainly located at the basal layer of the epidermis. These cells repair minor injuries of the skin and replace dead skin cells. However, EpiSCs&#8217; cannot heal severe wounds such as major burns or those from diabetes or hereditary disorders. In such cases, culturing the epidermal stem cells from the patient is possible and has yielded successful treatment options, such as laboratory-grown skin grafts. These grafts are synthesized using a patient&#8217;s own EpiSCs containing skin tissue which is taken out from an unaffected region. These grafts, called cultured epidermal autografts (CEA), have been used to treat severe burn wounds for more than three decades and have saved many lives.
The use of autografts or autologous skin grafts has some risks. For example, taking skin from an unaffected area itself creates a new wound. Proper healing of such secondary wounds along with the primary burn wound adds to the treatment challenge. For such patients, allografts, or healthy skin tissue from another person, are used as grafts for wound healing. Although allografts are immunologically rejected by the recipient patient within weeks, they can help wound healing by inducing endogenous regeneration of skin tissue.
As a wound heals, it may also form a scar&#8212;a mark that remains after wound closure. Scars are thicker than normal skin and lack sweat glands. Large scars, especially those around joints, may limit the movement of body parts. Hence, a scar is an undesirable event during wound healing. However, the risk of scar formation can be minimized using EpiSCs. This can be achieved through the use of EpiSC-derived exosomes. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles containing biomolecules such as proteins or RNAs. In rodents, the EpiSC-derived exosomes have been shown to transport microRNAs to the injured site, promote wound healing, and prevent scarring.

Epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) are mainly located at the basal layer of the epidermis. These cells repair minor injuries of the skin and replace dead skin ...

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Education

JoVE Core

Cell Biology

Unit 1

Stem Cell Biology And Renewal in Epithelial Tissue

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KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

how epidermal stem cells aid skin repair

Epidermal stem cells help the skin repair minor injuries and replace dead skin cells. These cells are found mainly in the basal layer of the epidermis, the outer layer of skin.

For severe wounds, such as major burns or skin damage linked to diabetes or inherited disorders, the body may need help beyond its own repair system. In these cases, epidermal stem cells can be grown from the patient in the lab. Skin taken from an unaffected area can be used to make cultured epidermal autografts, or CEA, which are laboratory-grown skin grafts. These grafts have been used for more than three decades to treat serious burn wounds and have saved many lives.

Autografts, also called autologous skin grafts, can create a new wound where the skin is taken from the patient. That means doctors must manage both the original burn and the donor site so both areas heal well. When this is a concern, allografts can be used instead. An allograft is healthy skin tissue from another person. The recipient usually rejects it within weeks, but it can still support wound healing by triggering the body’s own skin regeneration.

Wound healing can also leave scars, which are marks that remain after the skin closes. Scars are thicker than normal skin and do not have sweat glands. Large scars near joints may limit movement. Epidermal stem cells may help reduce this problem through stem cell-derived exosomes, which are tiny extracellular vesicles carrying biomolecules such as proteins or RNAs. In rodents, EpiSC-derived exosomes have been shown to deliver microRNAs to injured tissue, support wound healing, and help prevent scarring.

How Epidermal Stem Cells Aid Skin Repair

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renewal of skin epidermal stem cells

Epidermal Cell Turnover and Repair

The epidermis, the outer layer of skin, is constantly renewed as old cells are replaced by new ones. Skin is organized into three layers: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. In this process, epidermal stem cells, or EpiSCs, divide and make the cells needed to maintain the surface. Some EpiSCs keep self-renewing so the stem cell pool stays active. Others become transit-amplifying, or TA, cells. These cells later form prickle or spinous cells, then granular cells, and finally dead keratinized...

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Epidermal stem cells help the skin repair minor injuries and replace dead skin cells. These cells are found mainly in the basal layer of the epidermis, the outer layer of skin. For severe wounds, such as major burns or skin damage linked to diabetes or inherited disorders, the body may need help beyond its own repair system. In these cases, epidermal stem cells can be grown from the patient in the lab. Skin taken from an unaffected area can be used to make cultured epidermal autografts, or...

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key terms and concepts

Learn how epidermal stem cells support skin repair, from cultured grafts for severe burns to exosomes that may help wound healing and reduce scarring.

How Epidermal Stem Cells Aid Skin Repair | JoVE K12

cell biology

JoVE Core Cell Biology illustrates complex cellular processes in easy-to-understand yet comprehensive animated video lessons. This collection focuses on the essential components and functions of cells, including organelles and membranes, cellular transport, and cell energetics. It is complemented by scientist-in-action videos that demonstrate the application of cell biology in real-world research experiments.

How Epidermal Stem Cells Aid Skin Repair

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