title: A novel model of human skin pressure ulcers in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pressure ulcers are a prevalent health problem in today's society. The shortage of suitable animal models limits our understanding and our ability to develop new therapies. This study aims to report on the development of a novel and reproducible human skin pressure ulcer model in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male non-obese, diabetic, severe combined immunodeficiency mice (n = 22) were engrafted with human skin. A full-thickness skin graft was placed onto 4×3 cm wounds created on the dorsal skin of the mice. Two groups with permanent grafts were studied after 60 days. The control group (n = 6) was focused on the process of engraftment. Evaluations were conducted with photographic assessment, histological analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques. The pressure ulcer group (n = 12) was created using a compression device. A pressure of 150 mmHg for 8 h, with a total of three cycles of compression-release was exerted. Evaluations were conducted with photographic assessment and histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Skin grafts in the control group took successfully, as shown by visual assessment, FISH techniques and histological analysis. Pressure ulcers in the second group showed full-thickness skin loss with damage and necrosis of all the epidermal and dermal layers (ulcer stage III) in all cases. Complete repair occurred after 40 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An inexpensive, reproducible human skin pressure ulcer model has been developed. This novel model will facilitate the development of new clinically relevant therapeutic strategies that can be tested directly on human skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burn Unit, University Hospital of Getafe, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrés A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burn Unit, University Hospital of Getafe, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cristóbal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martín-López
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University Hospital Central de la Defensa, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mallén
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alcalá, Networking Research Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Natalio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: García-Honduvilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alcalá, Networking Research Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buján
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014945:Wound Healing