[Epidermal growth factor stimulates tissue repair in skin through skin stem cell activation].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possible mechanisms of skin regeneration through the epidermal stem cells stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF).


METHODS
At 8 and 14 days after treatment with EGF, the tissue specimens from 8 skin ulcered patients who were treated with EGF were used to evaluate the distribution and differentiation of epidermal stem cells. The expression of beta 1 integrin, keratin 19 (K19), keratin 14(K14) and keratin 10 (K10) in skin was detected with SP immunohistochemical methods. Hematoxylin and eosin staining method were used to observe the tissue structure. Another 7 biopsies from ulcered patients without EGF management were used as the control.


RESULTS
The results from the hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that the epidermis in EGF treated wounds was thick and the epidermal ridges were enlarged both in 8 and 14 days compared with those in control skin. Immunohistochemical staining from beta 1 integrin and K 19 showed that all tissues treated with EGF were rich in epidermal stem cells both in 8 and 14 days. These stem cells were bigger in size and larger in number and localized at the base of the epidermis. In contrast, the positive expression cells of beta 1 integrin and K 19 in control group in the same time were scanty. It was found that there were some stem cell islands in epidermis treated with EGF in day 14 and absent from the control group. The expression of K14 and K10 could be observed in those terminally differentiating epidermal cells in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the possible mechanisms of skin regeneration stimulated by EGF comes from the mitogenic effects and differentiation of skin stem cells.
Fu
Xiao-bing
XB
304th Hospital of PLA, Beijing, P. R. China 100037. fuxb@cgw.net.cn
Sun
Xiao-qing
XQ
Sun
Tong-zhu
TZ
Dong
Yong-hong
YH
Gu
Xiao-man
XM
Chen
Wei
W
Sheng
Zhi-Yong
ZY
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor