R. Noakes , N. Mellick
Morphea is an idiopathic fi brosing condition of the skin well known to dermatologists. L tryptophan is an essential amino acid. Its use as a dietary supplement was associated with the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. The kynurenine pathway is the metabolic pathway by which L-tryptophan is converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Alterations in this pathway with increased levels of the metabolites L-kynurenine and quinolinic acid have previously been reported in eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome .The Queensland Institute of Dermatology is currently undertaking research into the role of the kynurenine pathway in morphea. Biopsies from involved and non involved skin of patients with active disease have been immunohistochemically stained for quinolinic acid, a metabolic intermediate and indoleamine 2, 3 dioxygenase the rate limiting enzyme. The theoretical background of this research, results and possible implications will be presented.
Method: Whisker HF from GFP-expressing (actin promoter) mice were transplanted onto the right side of 6 nude mice. Six weeks later, 6 mm full thickness wounds were applied on both the left and right side of the mice. After 7 days, wound sizes were compared in macroscopic photographs, and wound biopsies were analysed histologically.
Results: Histological analysis showed the presence of GFPlabelled epithelial cells in the wounds adjacent to transplanted HF. Reduced wound sizes adjacent to transplanted HF were indicated in histology study (P = 0.053). These results suggest that HF transplantation may have the potential to improve the healing of chronic wounds. Considering the outer surface of the hair follicle contains epidermal and dermal stem cells, hair transplantation would introduce a source of dermal and epidermal cells into the wound area.