The efficacy of interfollicular epidermal stem cells versus bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in cutaneous wound healing in diabetic rats

Abstract

Objective: Many sources of stem cells, such as bone marrow stem cells, embriyonic stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells, epidermal stem cells were used extensively for diabetic wound healing. This study investigated whether interfollicular epidermal stem cell versus bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell effectiveness in the enhancement of diabetic wound healing. Methods: The streptozotocin-induced Spraque-Dowley rats with 5 mm punch biopsy were used. Rats were divided into three groups: group I diabetic controls receiving no stem cells; group II, rats receiving bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; group III, rats receiving interfollicular epidermal stem cells. Wound healing was assessed clinically that regarding healing time and wound size. Results: Clinical results showed that wound size was significantly reduced in mesenchymal and interfollicular epidermal stem cell-treated groups as compared with controls. Complete wound-healing times were 19.4±2.85 days in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells group versus 20.3±3.45 days in interfollicular epidermal stem cells group and 24.7±4.17 in the control group. In the measurement of the wound area, there were no significant differences between the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells group (P=0.115) and interfollicular epidermal stem cells group (P=0.085). Conclusions: Interfollicular epidermal stem cells were found as effective as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells in the treatment of the diabetic wound.