Gulinnaz Ercan, Yiğit Tiftikcioglu,Seda Vatansever,Elgin Turkoz, Afrooz Rashnonejad and Cafer Seyid
Department of Biotechnology, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
Stem cell therapy is a promising new approach in burn wound healing. In this study mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were differentiated to keratinocytes by adding BMP-4 into the medium and characterized by cytokeratin-8 and cytokeratin-14 determination using immunoperoxidase technique. After cultured on vaseline gauze keratinocytes were transferred to 2nd degree thermal burn wounds of mice created bilaterally and symmetrically by a copper rod on the back of the mice in order to evaluate its effect in wound healing. Burn wounds on the right side was covered with keratinocytes on vaseline gauze (study group) while the cell-free vaseline gauze was applied to burn wounds on the left side (control group). Biopsy samples were taken from each group on 1st, 3rd and 5th days after the cell transfer. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that IL-8, MCP-1, Collagen-1, EGF expression which act as a regulator of wound healing started at an earlier stage and their densities were higher in the biopsy samples of the study group in comparison to controls. Wound healing began at an earlier stage in samples treated with keratinocytes. Although, keratinocytes migration from the edge of the wounds was observed in the treated samples, it was not observed in the control group. Since, mESCs derived keratinocytes are able to facilitate earlier recovery of thermal burn wound healing in mice their clinical application seems promising in burn treatment by preventing scar formation.
Keywords: Stem cell therapy, wound healing, keratinocyte, vaseline gauze, mouse embryonic stem cells.