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Foetal skin cells in wound healing: a promising tool for clinical application

  • Review
  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology

Abstract

The skin is the first protective barrier of our body. Wound healing is therefore an essential mechanism. However, this phenomenon can be impaired when wounds are too large or chronic, for example, in diabetes. Interestingly, adult skin heals with scars, whereas foetuses present scarless regeneration. The objective of this review is to highlight the difference in healing pathways between foetal and adult skin and to present the recent therapeutic strategies envisaged using foetal properties in the clinic. The main features that distinguish foetal wound healing from adult wound healing are less tissue inflammation, faster reepithelialisation, and less contraction of the neodermis, allowing foetal tissues to regenerate. Recently, new therapies in regenerative medicine have been introduced using these foetal properties. For the first time, our team has developed CICAFAST, an innovative dressing composed of foetal keratinocytes and fibroblasts, which has been tested on a skin graft donor site in a clinical Phase 1/2 trial.

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Acknowledgments and disclosures

Acknowledgments: We thank Dr Dagnelie of the CHU of Nantes for useful scientific exchanges and help with this review. We also thank Servier Medical Art for the illustrations. Financial support: JL is supported by NAOS. Conflicts of interest: JL is supported by NAOS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CRCINA, INSERM, Université d’Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France

    Judith Lorant, Amir Khammari & Brigitte Dreno

  2. Clinical Investigation Centre CIC1413, Nantes INSERM and University Hospital of Nantes, 5, allée de l’île Gloriette, 44093, Nantes Cedex 1, France

    Alexandra Poinas, Florence Vrignaud, Amir Khammari & Brigitte Dreno

  3. Cell and Gene Therapy Unit, CIC Biotherapy INSERM 0503, Hôtel-Dieu University Hospital, Nantes, France

    Olivier Nerriere & Brigitte Dreno

  4. Dermato-cancerology Department, University Hospital of Nantes, Place Alexis Ricordeau, 44093, Nantes, France

    Cécile Frenard, Amir Khammari & Brigitte Dreno

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nantes University Hospital, 44000, Nantes, France

    Norbert Winer

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  1. Judith Lorant
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Correspondence to Brigitte Dreno.

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Lorant, J., Poinas, A., Nerriere, O. et al. Foetal skin cells in wound healing: a promising tool for clinical application. Eur J Dermatol 29, 585–595 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2019.3675

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