Feasibility Study for Fibroblast Autologous Skin Grafts

Feasibility Study for Fibroblast Autologous Skin Grafts: Biopsy of Skin Fibroblasts, Expansion in Cell Therapy Core, Topical Injection of Fibroblasts, and Subsequent Removal of Graft for Laboratory Studies.

This research is being done to determine if investigators can change skin from one type to another. Specifically, investigators are interested in making normal skin into the thicker skin found on our palms and soles.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Wounds and Injuries
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: autologous skin fibroblasts; Biological: Filler Product

Detailed Description

To change the skin identity investigators propose to take skin cells from a person's own sole or palm (these are called "autologous skin fibroblasts"), multiply them in the lab, inject the cells (now called a "graft") back into the same person but at a different site of skin like the buttock, and then eventually remove the injected cells to see if they caused the skin to change.

Investigators hope that information from this study will help with problems like skin break-down in patients with amputations and prosthetics. The skin at their stump was not meant to withstand the pressure and friction of prosthetics and this study is the first step in trying to convert stump skin to palm/sole-like skin. In some select subjects the investigators will test if the addition of an FDA approved filler product might enhance cellular efficacy.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 80
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Ruizhi Wang; Phone Number: 410-502-7546; Email: rwang53@jhmi.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287
      • Recruiting
      • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dermatology Department
      • Contact: Sherry Leung; Phone Number: 410-502-7546; Email: ctrep@jhmi.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Luis Garza, MD, PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 61 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• May be male or female
• Must be between 18 years and 65 years of age
• In the opinion of the investigator, must be medically able to undergo the administration of study material determined by laboratory tests obtained within 7 days before baseline for which the investigator identified no clinically significant abnormality.
• Be able to comprehend the informed consent document and provide consent for participation

• Females of childbearing potential must:

  • have a negative pregnancy test at screening
  • agree to not become pregnant or breastfeed for the period of the study through 1 month after completion of the study
  • be willing to use a reliable form of contraception during the study
• Have healthy skin as determined by the PI or study Nurse Practitioner.
• Be willing and able to comply with the scheduled visits, biopsy/injection procedures, wound care instructions treatment plan, and other study procedures for the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having received any investigational drug within 30 days prior to study entry
• An allergy history to any study materials including local anesthetic, dimethyl sulfoxide, human albumin, or bovine constituents, or hetastarch
• Pregnant, lactating, or trying to become pregnant
• A history of keloid formation
• An active nonhealing wound
• Having a significant medical history that the investigator feels is not safe for study participation (for example, some forms of autoimmune conditions, metastatic cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV, Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) I/II, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C). Biopsies taken from individuals with infections that are not allowed to enter the cell therapy core will make it such that these individuals cannot participate.
• Specifically we will exclude those with autoimmune diseases affecting the skin such as lupus.
• Having current skin diseases (i.e. extreme and active eczema, psoriasis, lichen planus) that the investigator feels is not safe for study participation
• A diagnosis of uncontrolled diabetes
• Active smoker during the study
• We will also exclude those who are on chronic immunosuppressive therapies such as oral steroids, but also those on chronic topical steroids in the area of investigation.
• Known bovine or meat sensitivity or severe allergies manifested by anaphylaxis to any product
• Known bleeding disorder

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: autologous skin fibroblasts; The investigators are comparing 3 injection sites in the same individual	Biological: autologous skin fibroblasts; autologous skin fibroblasts; Biological: Filler Product; In some select subjects the investigators will test if the addition of an FDA approved filler product Bellafill might enhance cellular efficacy.; Other Names: Bellafill

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cytoplasmic size increase	Volar keratinocytes have larger area of the cytoplasm. We will quantitate the area of cytoplasm of non-volar keratinocytes to see if they increase selectively with volar fibroblasts as opposed to other fibroblasts injections or vehicle. The change in the area of cytoplasm of non-volar keratinocytes will be measured. The units of this measurement are a ratio of cytoplasmic area to total cellular area as a control.	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Durometer reading	Durometers measure the firmness of the skin. We will measure all sites to see if the area injected with volar fibroblasts is more firm. The units of measurement is in Durometer Units.	6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
• Collaborators: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS); United States Department of Defense; National Institutes of Health (NIH); Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Luis Garza, MD, PhD, Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 7, 2015
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 2, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 15, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 15, 2013
• First Posted (Estimated): October 17, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 7, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 5, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: prosthetics; wounds and injuries; healthy skin; amputations; dermal fibroblasts
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; ArteFill
• Other Study ID Numbers: NA_00068684; 1R01AR064297-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Per the requirements of the journal in which we finally publish.