Stem Cells in Skin Regeneration, Wound Healing, and Their Clinical Applications

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Nkemcho Ojeh¹  Irena Pastar²  Marjana Tomic-Canic²  Olivera Stojadinovic² 

[1] Faculty of Medical Sciences, the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, P.O. Box 64, Bridgetown BB 11000, St. Michael, Barbados; E-Mail:;Wound Healing and Regenerative Medicine Research Program, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller Medical School, 1600 NW 10th Avenue, RMSB, Room 2023-A, Miami, FL 33136, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: skin;    epidermis;    stem cells;    wound healing;    chronic wounds;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms161025476

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The skin is the largest organ of the body and has an array of functions. Skin compartments, epidermis, and hair follicles house stem cells that are indispensable for skin homeostasis and regeneration. These stem cells also contribute to wound repair, resulting in restoration of tissue integrity and function of damaged tissue. Unsuccessful wound healing processes often lead to non-healing wounds. Chronic wounds are caused by depletion of stem cells and a variety of other cellular and molecular mechanisms, many of which are still poorly understood. Current chronic wound therapies are limited, so the search to develop better therapeutic strategies is ongoing. Adult stem cells are gaining recognition as potential candidates for numerous skin pathologies. In this review, we will discuss epidermal and other stem cells present in the skin, and highlight some of the therapeutic applications of epidermal stem cells and other adult stem cells as tools for cell/scaffold-based therapies for non-healing wounds and other skin disorders. We will also discuss emerging concepts and offer some perspectives on how skin tissue-engineered products can be optimized to provide efficacious therapy in cutaneous repair and regeneration.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.