Researchers have made a significant discovery regarding the human body's ability to create skin from stem cells. This advancement allows for the replication of skin production in laboratory settings, contributing to a broader investigation into human development at a cellular level. The findings hold promise for slowing aging signs and enhancing artificial skin production for transplantation and scar prevention.
This research is part of the Human Cell Atlas project, an international initiative led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge. Prof. Muzlifah Haniffa, one of the project's leaders, indicated that this discovery could transform disease treatment and the preservation of health and youthfulness. Manipulating skin development may lead to reduced wrinkles, according to Haniffa.
The team has made significant progress in understanding the early development of skin cells. Initially, all human cells are identical after fertilization, but specific genes activate after three weeks to differentiate and form various body parts. Researchers have identified the timing and location of gene activation necessary for skin formation, the body's largest organ.
Under microscopic examination, activated genes resemble tiny lights, with orange genes forming the skin's surface and yellow genes determining its color. Additional genes are responsible for hair growth, sweat production, and protection against environmental factors. These genetic findings have been published in the journal Nature.
This breakthrough may eventually enable the replication of fetal skin's scar-free healing process in adults for surgical use. Researchers have also highlighted the essential role of immune cells in blood vessel formation within the skin, which they successfully replicated in laboratory conditions. By controlling gene activation with chemicals, scientists have produced small skin-like structures with hair growth from stem cells.
Prof. Haniffa noted that refining this skin growth technique could significantly aid burn victims through tissue transplantation and may offer solutions for hair loss. Additionally, lab-grown skin could enhance the understanding of genetic skin disorders and help test new treatments. Gene activation instructions persist throughout life, facilitating the development of various organs and tissues.