Chemical 'makes bone marrow repair skin'

The chemical which summons stem cells from bone marrow to the site of a wound has been discovered by scientists in the UK and Japan.

The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identified the distress signal - HMGB1.

The authors believe it can be used to put "a megaphone in the system" to improve the treatment of injuries such as burns and leg ulcers.

Another UK expert said the research had potential.

... "It could potentially revolutionise the management of wound healing."

He envisaged treatments in which a drug similar to HMGB1 would be injected near to a wound.

He said: "It would be like putting a megaphone in the system" bringing stem cells to the injury.

Researchers in Osaka are developing a drug to mimic HMGB1. They hope to begin animal testing by the end of the year and human clinical trials shortly afterwards.

via BBC News - Chemical found which 'makes bone marrow repair skin'.