The primary function of the skin is to serve as a protective barrier against the environment. Loss of the integrity of large portions of the skin as a result of injury or illness may lead to major disability or even death. Every year in the United States more than 1.25 million people have burns1 and 6.5 million have chronic skin ulcers caused by pressure, venous stasis, or diabetes mellitus.2 The primary goals of the treatment of wounds are rapid wound closure and a functional and aesthetically satisfactory scar. Recent advances in cellular and molecular biology have greatly expanded our understanding . . .

Cutaneous wound healing.

https://sites.bu.edu/chenlab/files/2014/01/38_McBeathDevCell_04.pdf

Cell shape, cytoskeletal tension, and rhoa regulate stem cell lineage commitment

Stimulation of adipogenesis in fibroblasts by PPAR gamma 2, a lipid-activated transcription factor.

https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/0092-8674(87)90585-X.pdf

Expression of a single transfected cDNA converts fibroblasts to myoblasts.

During the course of purifying nerve growth factor from the submaxillary gland of the mouse, Cohen (1960) and Levi-Montalcini and Cohen (1960) noticed that daily injections of certain gland extract fractions into newborn mice produced developmental changes that could not be ascribed to nerve growth factor. These changes included precocious opening of the eyelids (7 days compared to the usual 14 days) and a similar early eruption of the incisors. Using these gross anatomical changes as an assay, Cohen (1962) proceeded to isolate the active factor — a polypeptide which he termed epidermal growth factor (EGF).

Epidermal growth factor

An established preadipose cell line and its differentiation in culture II. Factors affecting the adipose conversion

Owing to several recent developments, the cultivability of epidermal keratinocytes, particularly those of the human, has been greatly improved. Under the conditions used, single cultured cells generate stratified colonies that ultimately fuse and form an epithelium that is reasonable approximation of the epidermis. It will be shown here that large amounts of cultured epithelium can be generated from a small piece of epidermis in a short time. We wish to bring to the attention of surgeons and cell biologists the possibility of using culture-grown epithelium derived from the same individual to restore defects in the epidermis.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/76/11/5665.full.pdf

Olaniyi Kehinde

Papers

An established preadipose cell line and its differentiation in culture II. Factors affecting the adipose conversion

Growth of cultured human epidermal cells into multiple epithelia suitable for grafting.

Sublines of mouse 3T3 cells that accumulate lipid

Grafting of burns with cultured epithelium prepared from autologous epidermal cells

Formation of normally differentiated subcutaneous fat pads by an established preadipose cell line.