Breakthrough May Signal End to Scars

Scars are a natural part of the healing process, and every year, more than 100 million people in the developed world get scars from surgery alone, according to the National Institutes of Health. But scars from surgery, accidents, and even acne could be a thing of the past, according to a new study published in the journal Science. A new technique manipulates lesions to heal as regenerated skin rather than scar tissue.

The method transforms the most common type of cells found in wounds into fat cells, a feat previously thought impossible.

Fat cells called adipocytes are normally found in the skin, but they vanish when wounds heal as scars. The most common cells found in healing wounds are myofibroblasts, which were thought to only form a scar.

Scar tissue also does not contain hair follicles, which is another factor that makes scar tissue’s appearance different from the rest of the skin. Researchers used these qualities as the basis for their research to change the myofibroblasts, which were already present, into fat cells that do not cause scarring.

“Essentially, we can manipulate wound healing so that it leads to skin regeneration rather than scarring,” said principle researcher George Cotsarelis, M.D. of the University of Pennsylvania. “The secret is to regenerate hair follicles first. After that, the fat will regenerate in response to the signals from those follicles.”

The study found that hair follicles form before fat, and that regenerating the hair follicles will change the myofibroblasts into fat cells that look the same as pre-existing fat cells.

“Typically, myofibroblasts were thought to be incapable of becoming a different type of cell,” Cotsarelis said. “But our work shows we have the ability to influence these cells, and that they can be efficiently and stably converted into adipocytes.”

Once healed, the wound will look natural and be almost indistinguishable from surrounding skin.

The new technique will be a boon to patients undergoing traditional surgery, as well as those undergoing cosmetic surgery. But it may also be helpful for more than just wounds.

Fat cells lost naturally during aging, especially in the face, lead to deep, permanent wrinkles, something that current techniques can’t fix. And loss of adipocytes is a common complication of other conditions, especially treatments for HIV.

“Our findings can potentially move us toward a new strategy to regenerate adipocytes in wrinkled skin, which could lead us to brand new anti-aging treatments,” Cotsarelis said.