Breakthrough for Better Grafts: Growing Human Skin in Mice

Image credit: Clay Banks via Unsplash

In a potentially groundbreaking new treatment for severe skin wounds, researchers from Japan have devised a way of developing skin grafts by growing them on another species.

This novel innovation overcomes the current challenges of conventional treatments using the patient’s own skin layers – a process known as autologous skin grafting – which can be difficult to source in the case of significant wounds requiring large grafts.

The study, recently published in Nature Communications, saw researchers introduce a mutation into mouse foetuses that inhibited mature epidermis development. The foetuses were then injected with mouse stem cells and left to develop, with researchers analysing their skin growth at birth.

Results showed the mice developed large skin patches from the donated cells, which were successfully transplanted into adult mice.

“Not only were the chimeric mice born covered with large patches of skin derived from the injected cells, but these patches also survived up to three months when grafted onto mature mice, and even grew fur,” said co-author, Dr Naoaki Mizuno in a statement.

Study co-author, Dr. Hiromitsu Nakauchi added: “Our findings suggest that semi-autologous skin grafts containing hair follicles and other skin appendages can be generated in vivo and engrafted successfully.”

Refer to the research in Nature Communications, or this press release from Tokyo Medical and Dental University for further information.