Effects of Hair Follicle Stem Cells on Partial-Thickness Burn Wound Healing and Tensile Strength

Abstract

Background: The recent improvements in wound healing have led to new strategies in regenerative medicine. Burn wound healing is an important issue in skin regeneration and has multiple indications for stem cell therapy. HFSCs are a highly promising source of stem cells for healing use, as these cells are accessible, active and pluripotent adult stem cells. Methods: HFSCs of the rat whisker were isolated, cultured, and labeled with DiI. Flow cytometry method was used to detect special markers of HFSCs. Deep partial-thickness burn wound was created, and labeled HFSCs were injected around the wound bed. Wound closure was recorded via digital photographs. The inflicted rats were sacrificed at 3, 7, or 14 days post burn and used for subsequent histological and tensiometry analysis. Results: Our results indicated that HFSCs were positive for Nestin and CD34 markers, but negative for Kr15. Morphological and histological photographs revealed that wound closure rate was accelerated in stem cell-treated group compared with other groups. In addition, faster re-epithelialization and collagen deposition were observed. The immunohistochemical analysis suggested that CD31 expression and vascular density enhanced in the stem cell-treated group. Further, tissue tensile strength increased in HFSCs-treated rats in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that HFSCs could accelerate burn wound healing as well as tensile strength in rats.

Efficacy of stem cell therapy for burn wounds: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies

“…Fourteen studies [ 16 , 28 , 29 , 37 – 39 , 41 , 44 – 50 ] used rats, six studies [ 17 , 30 , 40 , 42 , 43 , 51 ] used mice, and two studies [ 36 , 52 ] used minipigs. A total of 10 studies were conducted in China [ 29 , 30 , 37 , 39 , 40 , 43 , 47 – 49 , 51 ], 3 studies in Brazil [ 16 , 28 , 41 ], 3 studies in the USA [ 36 , 42 , 52 ], and 2 studies in Iran [ 38 , 45 ], whereas the remaining 4 were conducted in Pakistan [ 46 ], Egypt [ 44 ], Turkey [ 50 ], and Canada [ 17 ], respectively. Four studies [ 40 , 43 , 48 , 51 ] did not report burn degree and two [ 38 , 45 ] used second-degree burns, while the others used third-degree.…”

“…Four studies [ 40 , 43 , 48 , 51 ] did not report burn degree and two [ 38 , 45 ] used second-degree burns, while the others used third-degree. The cell types used for transplantation were mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) [ 17 , 28 – 30 , 43 – 48 , 50 ], epidermal stem cells (ESCs) [ 40 , 51 ], hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) [ 38 ], stromal vascular fraction (SVF) [ 36 , 52 ], and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) [ 16 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 49 ]. As for mesenchymal stem cells, they derived from umbilical cord [ 30 , 46 – 48 ], bone marrow [ 28 , 29 , 43 – 45 , 50 ], and burned tissue [ 17 ].…”

Proinflammatory cytokines regulate epidermal stem cells in wound epithelialization

“…However, only small and superficial wounds are suitable for spray therapy. Topical application and injection of hSCs have been conducted in both rat models and ulcer patients, and it showed better wound closure by reducing inflammation and improving epithelialization and angiogenesis [50][51][52]. The administration of SCs not only accelerates wound healing, but also enhances the physiological function of skin.…”

Therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicle‐associated long noncoding RNA

“…19 Beyond the cell types mentioned above, hair follicles contain a number of stem cells at their base that play a role in wound healing. [20][21][22] Si et al found that transfecting hair follicle stem cells with the lncRNA PlncRNA-1 increased their proliferation and differentiation. Treatment of these transfected cells with the TGF-β1 inhibitor LY2109761 decreased these effects, suggesting a role for PlncRNA-1 in the TGF-β1-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade.…”

“…Beyond the cell types mentioned above, hair follicles contain a number of stem cells at their base that play a role in wound healing 20‐22 . Si et al found that transfecting hair follicle stem cells with the lncRNA PlncRNA‐1 increased their proliferation and differentiation.…”