University of Queensland researchers have created the world’s first fully functioning human skin grown in a laboratory with its own blood supply.
The breakthrough was achieved at UQ’s Frazer Institute, where a team used stem cells to develop a replica of human skin that includes blood vessels, capillaries, hair follicles, nerves, tissue layers and immune cells.
Dr Abbas Shafiee, who led the study, said the work, six years in the making, could reshape treatments for burns, skin grafts and inflammatory skin disorders.
“This is the most life-like skin model that’s been developed anywhere in the world and will allow us to study diseases and test treatments more accurately,” Dr Shafiee said.
“Until now, scientists have been limited in how we study skin diseases and develop new therapies. But with a skin model like this, that closely mimics real human skin, we will be able to study diseases more closely, test treatments and develop new therapies more effectively.”
The project was carried out in collaboration with Metro North Health. Dr Shafiee explained that the team reprogrammed human skin cells into stem cells, which were then grown into mini versions of skin, known as organoids.
“We then used the same stem cells to create tiny blood vessels and added these to the growing skin,” he said. “It developed just like natural human skin, with layers, hair follicles, pigmentation, appendage patterning, nerves, and most importantly, its own blood supply.”
Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani said the engineered skin could improve graft transplants and treatments for conditions including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, scleroderma and other genetic diseases.
“Skin grafts are used to treat major wounds and burns, but their effectiveness can be limited, and the risk of infection is high,” Professor Khosrotehrani said.
“This skin model will enable us to further progress those treatments, along with wound healing, regenerative medicine and precision dermatology. Skin disorders can be difficult to treat, and it’s a real breakthrough to be able to provide hope for people living with chronic conditions.”
The research was funded by Metro North Health and conducted at the Translational Research Institute in Brisbane.
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