De Novo Follicular Regeneration of the Skin by Wingless Int 3 and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 Genes Introduced into Dermal Fibroblasts and Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Protein

In this study, researchers successfully regenerated skin and its appendages by transplanting cultured normal dermal fibroblasts, which had been genetically modified, into full-thickness skin defects on the backs of Fisher 344 rats. The fibroblasts were modified with adenovirus vectors carrying bone morphogenetic protein 2 and wingless int 3 genes, along with fibroblast growth factor-2 protein. By Week 4, the appearance of follicle germs or primitive hair germs was observed in the group treated with this combination. By Week 16, mature hair follicles with pilosebaceous systems had formed in the treated ulcer wounds, demonstrating the potential for de novo follicular regeneration using this method.