Title: Immortal Skin
Author: Rebecca Skloot
Source: Popular Science Magazine
Publication: December, 2001
If you were caught in a fire and sustained traumatic, 3rd degree burns, what would you risk to regain and re-grow your healthy skin? If a treatment for burns that involved grafts formulated by cells which exhibited characteristics of malignant cells, would you consider getting the graft?
The article, “Immortal Skin” by Rebecca Skloot, which appeared in the December 2001 issue of Popular Science magazine, reports on a new type of skin cells that never stop dividing. The ‘immortal cells’ discussed in the article were the discovery of Lynn Allen-Hoffmann, a pathology professor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in
The article details an important and intriguing innovation considered by Allen-Hoffmann and her company, Stratatech, regarding the practical usage of these immortal cells; she proposes the idea that the cells could be mastered to fabricate swatches of skin for use during skin graft operations. This would be a major advancement in the field, as presently, the effectiveness and reliability of the procedure for skin grafting has not been perfected. Although this proposal is a fascinating one, the article mentions the bare minimum regarding the origin and nature of the cells themselves—they are collected from the foreskins of circumcised babies— and neglects to describe what factors could possibly incite such consistent growth. Information regarding the mechanism and function of these cells is very hard to find, as inventor Allen-Hoffmann has kept her secrets under wraps.
Even so, Allen-Hoffmann patented her special cells in 2005— a slightly more detailed description regarding her cells was given on the patent website. The cells, which are referred to as “Immortalized human keratinocyte cells,” are collected from cultures with both malignant skin cells and ‘spontaneously immortalized human keratinocytes.’ These cells produce keratin (an insoluble protein found in the outer layer of skin) and never cease dividing. [@http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6884595.html]
Several of the current, most common methods for skin grafting are detailed in the article in a concise and helpful way. The author effectively frames the potential future of skin grafting and the sources of the grafts with appropriate history and background information. The largest human organ, the skin, is responsible for protection and insulation, and has two major parts: the outer layer, the epidermis, and the inner, flexible layer, the dermis. One of the most common methods of skin grafting for burn patients is called ‘split-thickness skin grafting,’ where the doctor takes a piece of skin from another part of the body and transplants it onto the affected area. Epicel, a patient-specific product that is grown in the laboratory, is a thin layer of epidermis that can be used to cover the burned area. Another engineered skin product on the market is called Apligraf— also produced from the cells of circumcised baby foreskins, this artificially-grown skin is often successful because the cells, with underdeveloped immune systems, are not likely to cause a rejection reaction in the patient. Even so, complications with healing and infection often arise.
The immortal cells discovered in Allen-Hoffmann’s lab are different, however. The advancement of these cells toward becoming an FDA approved product could revolutionize skin grafting; a graft with perpetually dividing skin cells would allow for the recovery of the skin to a full thickness and greater strength. Skin grafts would be available for patients who do not have enough remaining skin to undergo split-thickness grafting and would be more comprehensive than using an artificial skin product. The article raises concerns, though, regarding the cancerous nature of cells that never stop dividing—could these cells cause tumors to form in patients with skin grafts?
Biotechnology is constantly challenging the medical precedent, studying past procedures and trials, and searching for new information to formulate newer, better drugs and treatments. More significant than describing the specific treatment and development methods for artificial skin and skin grafts though, this article about ‘immortal cells’ sets the stage to question the limits of the field of biotechnology. The possibility for the development of cancer is certainly a controversial issue surrounding the potential use of these new cells. When searching for cures and advancements in the medical field, it can be difficult to tell where treatments stop being safely helpful and start being dangerous; risky surgeries, chemotherapy, and new drugs can all have negative effects that may end up outweighing the benefits. Although the trials where the immortal cells were grafted onto animal subjects have not produced any evidence of malignant developments, how can any researcher be sure that harmful results would not arise in human testing? It is one thing for a drug or treatment to be approved without full knowledge of possible, negative side-effects, but it is another thing entirely to approve a drug with known carcinogenic tendencies. Will it ever be acceptable to make a product with such blatantly unsettling traits available to the public?
On the other hand, although intentionally implanting cells that behave like cancer may seem like a careless gamble, it could turn out to be the best way to produce skin grafts with a high success and recovery rate. The only way to determine if such a technology will be positive and effective is to carry out trials and measure the results. A certain degree of trust and confidence must be placed in the judgment and skill of the pioneers at the forefront of biotechnological advancements such as this one. Could it be possible to harness dangerous, cancerous cells and use them to a medical advantage? Only time will tell.
-JG
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