Experimental evaluation of the effectiveness of adipose mesenchymal stem cells in full-thickness skin wounds

BACKGROUND: Currently, numerous techniques or medical devices that allow complete or partial restoration of the lost skin within a short time remain as subjects of development. Many studies have shown the effectiveness of using stem cells in the treatment of full-thickness skin defects, but their use remains very limited. At present, there is no consensus among researchers about the advisability of the use of stem cells in the treatment of burns as well as about the method of their introduction.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the possibility of accelerating the reparative histogenesis of tissues in the zone of deep skin burns using cultures of adipogenic mesenchymal cells, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of various methods of introducing cultures of these cells into the defect zone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experimental study was carried out on small laboratory animals (rats). After simulating a grade III burn, mesenchymal stem cells were transplanted and superficially applied to the wound surface or injected under the fascia. In the control group, no wound treatment was performed. To assess the effectiveness of the wound-healing preparations, the appearance of wounds was assessed daily, the nature of the discharge and presence and type of granulations were noted, and the timing of scab rejection and wound healing was recorded. The wound area was assessed using a planimetric method. A histological examination of wound biopsies was carried out on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 of observation.

RESULTS: The application of adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells demonstrated the greatest efficiency on the developed burn model. Subfascial administration was less effective, but this method achieved a significant acceleration of wound healing in comparison with the control group. An increase in the healing index by 56.6% demonstrates the highest intensity of reparative regeneration in animals applied with adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells.

CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary results show that the application of adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells on the skin defect is more effective than subfascial administration based on the healing index. The use of adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells may substantially increase the effectiveness of the treatment of full-thickness skin defects.