autologous volar fibroblasts (Johns Hopkins University)

Autologous volar fibroblasts is an investigational cell therapy developed by Johns Hopkins University for the prevention and treatment of skin breakdown and ulcers in amputees. The therapy involves harvesting volar fibroblasts from a patient's own palm or sole skin, expanding them in vitro, and injecting them into the skin of the residual limb stump. These specialized fibroblasts induce the overlying keratinocytes to differentiate into a volar-like phenotype, characterized by increased epidermal thickness and the expression of Keratin 9. This transformation enhances the skin's structural integrity and pressure tolerance, potentially reducing the incidence of stump dermatoses and skin failure caused by prosthetic use.

Other names

autologous skin fibroblastsvolar fibroblasts