04 Aug Skin-Grafted Stem Cells May Treat Obesity and Diabetes
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Xiaoyang Wu
Dr. Xiaoyang Wu PhD
Ben May Department for Cancer Research
The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: We have been working on skin somatic stem cells for many years. As one of the most studies adult stem cell systems, skin stem cells have several unique advantages as the novel vehicle for somatic gene therapy (summarized also in the paper). The system is well established. Human skin transplantation using CEA device developed from skin stem cells have been clinically used for decades for burn wound treatment, and been proven to be safe the effective.
In this study, we developed a skin 3D organoid culture model to induce stratification and maturation of mouse epidermal stem cells in vitro, which allows us to efficiently transfer engineered mouse skin to isogenic host animals. In the proof of concept study, we showed that we can achieve systematic release of GLP1 at therapeutic concentration by engineered skin grafts.
MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Response: Engineered skin transplant may provide a safe and long term delivery system for treatment of many human diseases.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: Before clinical translation, we will further characterize our mouse model of skin therapy, for the potential immune reaction, stability of skin grafts, and duration of the therapeutic effects in vivo. We are also interested in using our mouse model to test other potential applications of skin gene therapy, such as human genetic diseases, including hemophilia, urea cycle disorders.
There is no conflict-of-interest.
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Citation:
Jiping Yue, Xuewen Gou, Yuanyuan Li, Barton Wicksteed, Xiaoyang Wu. Engineered Epidermal Progenitor Cells Can Correct Diet-Induced Obesity and Diabetes. Cell Stem Cell, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2017.06.016
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Last Updated on August 4, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD