Wound Biology
Oral
Mucosal Lamina Propria-Progenitor Cells for tissue repair:
Wounds in the mouth heal extremely well compared to
normal skin wounds in that they demonstrate little or no scarring. We have been
investigating the cells from soft tissues within the mouth and have demonstrated
that they are different to skin cells and in fact are more like foetal cells. This suggested that the cells from the mouth
may actually be more like stem cells. Our
recent work has identified such a stem cell−like cell within the mouth that can
make various tissue types, are potent at down-regulating the immune system and
have anti-bacterial properties.
Hence, such cells may be useful to (a) help repair/regenerate damaged or
diseased tissue, (b) help down-regulate the immune system during transplantation
or after individuals have suffered from an auto-immune diseases and (c) be
useful in combating infections/cancer.
Importantly, because tissue containing the oral cells is easy to access
and heals without a scar this could be the preferential source for stem cells
for future patient therapy (patents awarded and filed; funded by the MRC).
Chronic
wound healing:
We have had a long-term
interest in the spectrum of wound responses including those that do not heal
(chronic venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers). We have already demonstrated, through our in vitro
analyses, that the molecular and cellular responses of fibroblasts from chronic
wounds are dysfunctional. This includes
our observations that chronic wound fibroblasts demonstrate premature senescence
which impacts on their ability to drive repair of the wound due to a lack of
production of several key chemokines. We are now developing these chronic wound
cells strains into well characterised chronic wound cell lines which may have
the potential to replace some animal experimentation for the future
pre-screening of materials which may have beneficial effects for chronic wound
sufferers.
Stem cell tracking
One of the major barriers to translation with respect
to tracking stem cell lineage/fate has been the ability to image cells within
3D tissues in real time. Traditionally, this has been attempted using
fluorescence-based light imaging techniques with 3D sectioning capabilities
such as laser-scanning confocal or multi-photon microscopy to provide
quantitative, real-time imaging of cells. However, such an approach is limited
due to photobleaching and the phototoxic effects of the fluorochrome
label/moiety utilised. Hence we are
working across disciplines (Physics and Chemistry) to develop novel,
non-destructive imaging modalities (PET and MRI-based) to track stem cells and
their progeny in real time in patients (funded by the EPSRC).
Current Grants:
MRC Confidence in Concept Award (2014-2015)
Collaborations:
Paola
Borri/Wolfgang Langbein – Cell-based CARS analysis
Elijah
Ablorsu – Oral progenitor cells for whole organ repair
Steve
Paisey/Ian Fallis/Angelo Amoroso – Novel methods for stem cell tracking
Alastair
Sloan/Lindsay Davies – Oral progenitor cells as anti-bacterial agents
Rachel
Errington – Cell lineage determination
Bing
Song/David Barrow – Stem cell delivery
Chris
Wright/Karl Hawkins (Swansea) – Rheology-based measurement of cellular
responses
Mark Bass
(Bristol) – Chronic wound healing
Zhidao Xia
(Swansea) – Chronic wound healing
Recent Awards
Phil
Stephens: Welsh Livery Guild Merit Award (2012)
Rachel
Howard-Jones: Poster Prize (Cardiff University Postgraduate Research Day,
2009), Oral Prize (Cardiff University Postgraduate Research Day, 2011), BSODR
Senior Colgate Prize (2012), Poster Prize TCES (2014)
Adam
Glen: TCES Oral presentation prize (2013)
Emma Board Davies: CITER Oral presentation prize (2014)