This research is being done to determine if investigators can change skin from one type to another. Specifically, investigators are interested in making normal skin into the thicker skin found on our palms and soles.
To change the skin identity investigators propose to take skin cells from a person's own sole or palm (these are called "autologous skin fibroblasts"), multiply them in the lab, inject the cells (now called a "graft") back into the same person but at a different site of skin like the buttock, and then eventually remove the injected cells to see if they caused the skin to change. Investigators hope that information from this study will help with problems like skin break-down in patients with amputations and prosthetics. The skin at their stump was not meant to withstand the pressure and friction of prosthetics and this study is the first step in trying to convert stump skin to palm/sole-like skin. In some select subjects the investigators will test if the addition of an FDA approved filler product might enhance cellular efficacy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
80
autologous skin fibroblasts
In some select subjects the investigators will test if the addition of an FDA approved filler product Bellafill might enhance cellular efficacy.
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dermatology Department
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
RECRUITINGCytoplasmic size increase
Volar keratinocytes have larger area of the cytoplasm. We will quantitate the area of cytoplasm of non-volar keratinocytes to see if they increase selectively with volar fibroblasts as opposed to other fibroblasts injections or vehicle. The change in the area of cytoplasm of non-volar keratinocytes will be measured. The units of this measurement are a ratio of cytoplasmic area to total cellular area as a control.
Time frame: 6 months
Durometer reading
Durometers measure the firmness of the skin. We will measure all sites to see if the area injected with volar fibroblasts is more firm. The units of measurement is in Durometer Units.
Time frame: 6 months
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