Severe Burns
Medical Background
Severe burns are among the most painful injuries. Although progress has been made in developing new treatments for burn victims, including new skin grafting and artificial skin technologies, scientists believe that stem cells could provide a new way to regenerate functional skin following burn injuries.
Human and Social Costs
According to the American Burn Association, each year 1.1 million burn injuries require medical attention. Of the approximately 50,000 that require hospitalization, some 20,000 are major burns involving at least 25 percent of the total body surface. While the majority of burn patients are men, infants and adults over age 60 account for nearly 25% of all burn cases.
Nationwide, the hospital costs for burn patients currently exceed $2 billion per year. But the most devastating toll is the pain, disfigurement and emotional costs of treatment for patients and their families.
The Potential for Stem Cell Cures
Scientists have already found that skin progenitor stem cells (keratinocyte progenitors) in adult human skin have a significant capacity for growth and tissue-regeneration. It may also be possible to use embryonic, or early, stem (ES) cells to generate healthy new epidermal or dermal skin cells.
Burn victims could also benefit from a developing field of stem cell therapy called somatic cell nuclear transfer, or SCNT. In this process, the nucleus from a human cell, such as a skin cell, is combined with an unfertilized human egg cell. Within a few days, ES cells are created. These cells could then be used to generate healthy new tissue, such as skin, without the risk of the immune-rejection problems common to donated tissue and organ transplants.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School recently found a way to improve the production of skin cells from an ES cell line. The study showed that the introduction of growth-promoting genes into the ES-derived skin cells allowed for rapidly growing cells that could be purified and that carried several markers of mature keratinocytes. The study is an important step in the ongoing research into the use of ES cells in forming useful skin tissue and other therapeutic uses.
That's why early stem cell research and the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures are strongly supported by national medical organizations, like the American Society of Hematology, American Society for Cell Biology and American Pediatric Surgical Association; by leading Missouri medical organizations, like Washington University School of Medicine and the Missouri State Medical Association; by dozens of patient advocacy groups; and by the International Association of Fire Fighters, Missouri Locals 42 and 3808.
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