SKIN STEM CELLS AS NEW TREATMENTS FOR ACNE, SCARRING, LUPUS AND OTHER COMMON SKIN DISORDERS

Future Treatments Skin Stem Cells

Skin stem cells have opened new possibilities for the treatment of a variety of previously though incurably human skin disorders and diseases. Some of these disorders include alopecia, acne scarring, skin cancer, burns and vitiligo. The study of these stem cells as treatments are still at the beginning, but in the near future (5-10 years) skin stem cells will form a part of treatments at the bedside. The main problem in using skin stem cells as therapies is the problem of removing them from their natural habit, as it is difficult to differentiate normal cells from stem cells (we do not have enough markers to identify them) and to fully understand how to maintain and control a cells ability to stay as a stem cell or to change into other cells.

Stem cells exist in all the renewing tissues of the body, such as in bladder and bone tissue. They allow for repair of damage (e.g. fracture) and also for long-term changes that we see in our tissues.

These stem cells replicate within specific ‘niches' where they are protected from genetic damage from external, as well as internal agents, such as radiation, that could possibly prevent the stem cell from further replicating or cause it to replicate uncontrollably, as seen in cancer (e.g. leukemia). The niche for skin stem cells is the bulge area of the hair follicle.

In the skin, the basal cell layer of skin cells is the mitotically active site of skin replication. These cells are not stem cells, as they are not pluripotent; however, they continuously replicate to form the skin barrier. If these cells are damaged or removed, skin stem cells from the nearby hair follicle migrate to the regions where the basal cells have been lost, and transform into these basal cells, thereby replacing the regenerative capacity of the skin.

Skin stem cell populations are defined by 4 aspects:

1. they can self-renew themselves

2. they can produce themselves, but also change into another cell type/a more mature cell type

3. maintain the skin through time

4. participate in skin repair and regeneration

Skin stem cells in cosmetology

Skin stem cells would be effect for replacing scarred, burned, and damaged tissue through harvesting stem cells and re-implanting them into these regions.

Pilot Studies That Were Conducted On Stem Cells As Treatments for Acne and Scarring

The Chromogenex V3 is a 585-nm visible light laser which has been previously shown to be highly effective in treating acne. Omi et al (2005) revealed that its affect on the skin is not only by selective photothermolysis, but more importantly by direct cutaneous immunological activation of inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages that combat the bacteria that cause the inflammation in acne. Hyperactivating these cells could possible clear these microbes and prevent inflammation from happening.. (Omi T et al. Cutaneous immunological activation elicited by a low-fluence pulsed dye laser. Br J Dermatol. 2005 Dec;153 Suppl 2:57-62.)

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Coleman SR. Structural fat grafting: more than a permanent filler. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2006 Sep;118(3 Suppl):108S-120S.

Barthel R, Aberdam D. Epidermal stem cells. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2005 Jul;19(4):405-13. Review.

Watson D et al. Autologous fibroblasts for treatment of facial rhytids and dermal depressions. A pilot study.
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