[Stem cell therapy for intractable skin diseases].

Previous studies have shown that bone marrow provides fibroblastic-like cells in the dermis and keratinocytes in the epithelia. Subsequent studies by us and other groups have demonstrated that both embryonic and postnatal transplantation of bone marrow cells in model mice of epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a heritable blistering skin disease due to genetic mutation of cutaneous basement membrane components, promote skin wound healing and correct the intrinsic basement membrane defect. We also reported that the source of the epithelial progenitors in mouse bone marrow was the nonhematopoietic, platelet-derived growth factor receptoralpha (PDGFRalpha)-positive bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) population. In this review, recent progress as well as future perspectives of bone marrow MSC therapy for EB will be summarized.