UQ researchers achieve world-first by growing skin with vessels, follicles, and immune cells in the lab.
University of Queensland researchers have become the first in the world to successfully grow fully functioning human skin in a laboratory.The breakthrough, led by UQ’s Frazer Institute, used stem cells to create a replica of human skin that included blood vessels, capillaries, hair follicles, multiple layers of tissue, and immune cells.
Dr Abbas Shafiee said the skin model, which took six years to develop, would be transformative for skin graft transplants, wound healing, and the study of skin disorders.“This is the most life-like skin model that’s been developed anywhere in the world and will allow us to study diseases and test treatments more accurately,” Dr Shafiee said.Life-like model breakthrough“Until now, scientists have been limited in how we study skin diseases and develop new therapies,” Dr Shafiee explained.“But with a skin model like this, that closely mimics real human skin, we will be able to study diseases more closely, test treatments and develop new therapies more effectively.”Dr Shafiee, who collaborated on the project with Metro North Health, said recent advancements in stem cell research allowed them to build three-dimensional laboratory models of skin.“We took human skin cells and reprogrammed them into stem cells, which can be turned into any type of cell in the body,” he said.“We placed these stem cells into petri dishes and grew them into mini versions of skin, called skin organoids.”New hope for treatmentThe team then used the same stem cells to create tiny blood vessels and incorporated them into the growing skin.“It developed just like natural human skin, with layers, hair follicles, pigmentation, appendage patterning, nerves, and most importantly, its own blood supply,” Dr Shafiee said.Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani said the engineered skin could significantly improve skin graft transplants and advance treatment for inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, scleroderma, and other genetic conditions.“Skin grafts are used to treat major wounds and burns, but their effectiveness can be limited, and the risk of infection is high,” Professor Khosrotehrani said.“This skin model will enable us to further progress those treatments, along with wound healing, regenerative medicine and precision dermatology.“Skin disorders can be difficult to treat, and it’s a real breakthrough to be able to provide hope for people living with chronic conditions.”The study received funding support from Metro North Health and was carried out at the Translational Research Institute.The study findings have been published in Wiley Advanced Healthcare Materials.
Human Skin In Lab Precision Dermatology Regenerative Medicine Skin Graft Innovation Skin Organoids Stem Cell Breakthrough University Of Queensland Research World-First Skin Model Wound Healing
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