CSB #6: From Bone Marrow to Skin

(green are bone marrow cells, red are skin cells)

Earlier this week, researchers at King's College London and Osaka University in Japan have discovered specific bone marrow cells that can transform into skin tissue. Before this startling discovery, it was indeed known that bone marrow cells could turn into skin tissue. But, the group of cells was never specified, how they evolved, and what triggered the reaction.

Using mice with skin wounds for an experiment, they had one group that had skin grafting and one group that didn't. In the group that did not, the researchers noticed a very few amount of bone marrow cells traveling to heal it. The other group, however, had a much higher number of bone marrow cells at the wound. The researchers later came to a conclusion that 1 in every 450 bone marrow cells has the ability to transform into a skin cell. In addition to that, the researchers also found what triggered the bone marrow cells to transform. When skin is damaged, it releases a protein called HMGB1. This protein direct the bone marrow cells to where they are required.

This type of discovery will have a huge impact on medicine, as treating skin wounds has costed patients millions of dollars each year. People with chronic wounds and skin diseases would greatly benefit from this kind of treatment. Patients in the future will probably heal much faster than today. Some questions brought up were making HMGB1 a drug that patients could take. Then, where would they get this protein? Would it be harmful or have side effects? When will it be available as treatment? Because this is such a recent discovery, these questions have yet to be answered.

Sources: King's College London. "Bone marrow cells that transform into skin cells could revolutionize approach to wound treatment." ScienceDaily 5 Apr. 2011. Web. 7 Apr. 2011.