title: Dedifferentiation of epidermal cells to stem cells in vivo.
abstract: The effects of growth factors on wound healing have been studied extensively; however epidermal regeneration is not fully understood. We treated eight patients with leg ulcers with recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) and compared biopsies of regenerating epidermis with those of controls who did not receive rhEGF. We used immunohistochemistry to identify cells expressing keratin 19 and beta1 integrin in regenerated epidermis from patients and controls. Patients treated with rhEGF had stem cells in the spinous and granular layers of regenerated epidermis. Histological analysis showed that these stem cells had reverted from differentiated to undifferentiated stem cells. Our findings provide evidence for epidermal cell reversion.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019012:Integrin beta1; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D007633:Keratins