Therapy for skin disease using bone marrow cells.

Attempts to treat congenital protein deficiencies using bone marrow-derived cells have been reported. These efforts have been based on the concepts of stem cell plasticity. We aimed to clarify whether bone marrow transplantation (BMT) treatment can rescue epidermolysis bullosa (EB) caused by defects in keratinocyte structural proteins. BMT treatment of adult collagen XVII (Col17) knockout mice induced donor-derived keratinocytes and Col17 expression associated with the recovery of hemidesmosomal structure and better skin manifestations, as well improving the survival rate. Furthermore, human cord blood CD34+ cells also differentiated into keratinocytes and expressed human skin component proteins in transplanted immunocompromised mice. The current conventional BMT techniques have significant potential as a systemic therapeutic approach for the treatment of human EB.