Genetically Engineered Skin Cells Inhibit Microbial Infection

Genetically engineered skin cells (keratinocytes) enhance the ability of grafted skin to prevent bacterial infections during the early stages of burn healing.

Investigators from the University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH, USA) used advanced genetic engineering techniques to induce the expression of human beta defensin 4 in cultured primary epidermal keratinocytes. Defensins are cationic peptides of the innate host defense system that have antimicrobial activity against many of the microorganisms commonly found in burn units.

The altered skin cell cultures were exposed to infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results published in the January 2007 issue of the Journal of Burn Care and Research revealed that skin cell cultures expressing human beta defensin 4 showed significantly elevated antimicrobial activity against clinically-isolated P aeruginosa as compared to cultures of normal keratinocytes.

"Cultured skin substitutes are improving the lives of many burn patients, but they also have limitations--including an increased susceptibility to infection,” explained senior author Dr. Dorothy Supp, associate professor of medicine at the University of Cincinnati. "If we can add these genetically modified cells to bio-engineered skin substitutes, it would provide an important defense system boost during the initial grafting period, when the skin is most susceptible to infection.”



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