Effect of Mixed Transplantation of Autologous and Allogeneic Microskin Grafts on Wound Healing in a Rat Model of Acute Skin Defect

Abstract

The treatment of extensive thermal injuries with insufficient autologous skin remains a great challenge to burn surgeons. In this study, we investigated the influence of the ratio of autologous and allogeneic tissue in mixed microskin grafts on wound healing in order to develop an effective method for using limited donor skin to cover a large open wound. Four different mixtures were tested: autologous microskin at an area expansion ratio of 10∶1 with allogeneic microskin at an area expansion ratio of 10∶1 or 10∶3 and autologous microskin at an expansion ratio of 20∶1 with allogeneic microskin at an expansion ratio of 20∶3 or 20∶6. Wound healing, wound contraction, and integrin β1 expression were measured. Mixed microskin grafting facilitated wound healing substantially. The mixture of autologous microskin at an expansion ratio of 10∶1 with the same amount of allogeneic microskin achieved the most satisfactory wound healing among the 4 tested mixtures. Histological examination revealed the presence of obviously thickened epidermis and ectopic integrin β1 expression. Keratinocytes expressing integrin β1 were scattered in the suprabasal layer. Higher levels of integrin β1 expression were associated with faster wound healing, implying that ectopic expression of integrin β1 in keratinocytes may play a pivotal role in wound healing. In conclusion, this study proves that this new skin grafting technique may improve wound healing.

The progress of Chinese burn medicine from the Third Military Medical University—in memory of its pioneer, Professor Li Ao

“…At our institute, microskin grafting was performed regularly in patients who had limited autografts by using the reported methods with some modifications. We found that a microskin graft with an area expansion ratio of 10:1 achieved the best wound healing effect [ 25 , 26 ]; thus, the microskin graft could partly solve the problem of covering extensive burned wounds with small areas of autografts [ 27 , 28 ].…”

The bioactivity of composite Fmoc-RGDS-collagen gels

“…Most commonly, collagen gels change their shape irreversibly in response to the contractile action of encapsulated cells. [30] Consequently, transplanted collagen gels may contract, leading to delayed graft integration, [31] tissue deformation, [32] and scar contracture. [33,34] In order to determine the ability of fPA functionalisation in circumventing this effect, we tested changes in shape from +fPA and control collagen gels containing encapsulated hCSFs.…”

The role of placenta‐derived mesenchymal stem cells in healing of induced full‐thickness skin wound in a mouse model

“…The most abundant constitutive integrins in the epidermis are β1 and high expressed β 1 ‐integrins can prompt epidermal cells into a high proliferative and dedifferentiated state . The characterization of integrin β1‐deficient mice has revealed crucial roles for the β1 integrin subfamily in hair follicle development, skin integrity, and cutaneous wound repair . More importantly, the integrin β1 subunit has been found to be a marker of keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs) and is the usual means of identifying such cells .…”