This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (57)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Wound Healing  • Alert me on articles by topic

Evangelos V. Badiavas, PhD, MD; Vincent Falanga, MD

Arch Dermatol. 2003;139:510-516.

Background  Recent evidence indicates that bone marrow contains stem cells with the potential for differentiation into a variety of tissues, including endothelium, liver, muscle, bone, and skin. It may thus be plausible that bone marrow–derived cells can provide progenitor and/or stem cells to wounds during healing. Our objective in this study was to establish proof of principle that bone marrow–derived cells applied to chronic wounds can lead to closure of nonhealing wounds. We applied autologous bone marrow cells to chronic wounds in 3 patients with wounds of more than 1-year duration. These patients had not previously responded to standard and advanced therapies, including bioengineered skin application and grafting with autologous skin.

Observations  Complete closure and evidence of dermal rebuilding was observed in all patients. Findings suggesting engraftment of applied cells was observed in biopsy specimens of treated wounds. Clinical and histologic evidence of reduced scarring was also observed.

Conclusion  Directly applied bone marrow–derived cells can lead to dermal rebuilding and closure of nonhealing chronic wounds.

From the Departments of Dermatology (Drs Badiavas and Falanga) and Biochemistry (Dr Falanga), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass; and the Department of Pathology, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI (Dr Badiavas). The authors have no relevant financial interest in this article.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Chemokine Receptor CX3CR1 Mediates Skin Wound Healing by Promoting Macrophage and Fibroblast Accumulation and Function
Ishida et al.
J. Immunol. 2008;180:569-579.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Transdifferentiation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells into Epithelial-Like Cells
Medina et al.
Am. J. Pathol. 2007;171:1140-1152.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Stem Cell Continuum: Cell Cycle, Injury, and Phenotype Lability
QUESENBERRY et al.
Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 2007;1106:20-29.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Adult bone-marrow stem cells and their potential in medicine
Hassan and El-Sheemy
JRSM 2004;97:465-471.
FULL TEXT  

The Swings and Roundabouts of Randomized Controlled Studies in Wound Healing
Margolis
INT J LOW EXTREM WOUNDS 2004;3:4-6.