Scarless skin regeneration may be possible for human skin, study finds

11 Jan 2022 --- A model system for scar prevention in human skin has been established through a Japanese study that examined scarless skin wound healing through animal studies. These study results may lead to scarless wound healing for technology development in surgical and cosmetic medicine.

Several Japanese universities, including the University Of Tsukuba, examined the impact of scarless regeneration on the Japanese fire-bellied newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster.

The researchers examined the amphibians’ full-thickness skin at various locations on the body. They surveyed their re-epithelialization, granulation or dermal fibrosis, and recovery of texture and appendages as well as color – hue, tone and pattern – over two years.

“We chose to examine the adult Japanese fire-bellied newt, which is a type of salamander that is well understood on the genetic level,” explains Dr. Tatsuyuki Ishii, lead author of the study.

“We know adult newts are capable of complicated tissue, organ, and limb regeneration. Despite that, their ability to regenerate skin has not been scientifically demonstrated.”

The results showed that the amphibians’ wounds healed fast without leading to prolonged inflammation or scarring due to the limited healing time.

Skin re-epithelialization
Scar formation happens in adult mammals because skin regeneration does not fully occur. This poses a challenge to physicians who wish to conduct surgeries without scars appearing afterward.

After an injury occurs, the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin, can grow and migrate to fill in the wound. This is known as re-epithelialization.The adult newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster, was used as a model system for studying scarless wound healing for technology development in surgical and cosmetic medicine.

Although this takes place, the original skin color and texture are sometimes not retained, leading to the appearance of what we know as a scar.

Granulation and dermal fibrosis
Processes called granulation and dermal fibrosis underpins scar formation, focusing on scientists aiming to minimize scarring following clinical procedures.

Amphibians have been used as animal models for studying this because they do not scar before metamorphosis. However, it is not clear what happens to fully mature amphibian skin.

“Interestingly, we found that the adult newts could successfully and fully regenerate their skin at each part of the body that we examined. Re-epithelialization occurred at all locations, while no dermal fibrosis was observed at all,” notes senior study author Chikafumi Chiba.

Considering the study results, the researchers concluded that Cynops pyrrhogaster could be an ideal model system for investigating skin regeneration and scar formation in humans. The researchers determined that findings will be crucial for future studies in humans, focusing on preventing scarring in human skin following various medical procedures.

“Dermal fibrosis is often characterized by prolonged inflammation at the wound site,” explains Dr. Ishii. “Scar-free skin occurred in the newts through rapid re-epithelialization and skipping of granulation and dermal fibrosis.”

Skin regeneration moves
Previously, L’Oréal and Symatese expanded their partnership on biomaterials designed to create reconstructed human tissue for skin regeneration processes.

Meanwhile, Givaudan Active Beauty launched Sericoside, an active botanical ingredient that boosts skin’s cellular programming and enhances healthy aging.

By Nicole Kerr

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