A medical team at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum's burn unit and the Center for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Modena (Italy) were the first ever to successfully treat a child suffering from extensive skin damage using transplants derived from genetically modified stem cells. The boy is a so-called butterfly child: he suffers from epidermolysis bullosa, a genetic skin disease that had destroyed approximately 80 percent of his epidermis. After all established therapies had failed, the medical team from Bochum decided to try an experimental approach: they transplanted skin derived from genetically modified stem cells onto the wound surfaces. Thanks to the successful therapy, the boy is now - two years after the treatment - able to participate in his family's life and social life. The scientists published their report in Nature.

The doctors in charge, Associate Professor Dr Tobias Hirsch, Dr Tobias Rothoeft, and Dr Norbert Teig, are available for interviews.

A short film about the boy is also available and may be used for broadcasts. To this end, please get in touch with the clinics' press offices, see below.

Life-threatening condition

Epidermolysis bullosa is the scientific name of a congenital skin disease that is currently considered to be incurable. Its underlying mechanism is a defect in protein-forming genes that are essential for skin regeneration. Even minor stress can result in blisters, wounds, and skin loss with scar formation. Depending on disease severity, internal organs may likewise be affected, leading to critical dysfunctions.

The disease significantly reduces the patients' quality of life; often it is also life-threatening, as in the case of Hassan, the seven years old: by the time he was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit at Katholisches Klinikum Bochum in June 2015, 60 percent of his epidermis was lost. "He suffered from severe sepsis with high fever, and his body weight had dropped to a mere 17 kilogrammes - a life-threatening condition," Dr Tobias Rothoeft, Consultant at the University Children's Hospital at Katholisches Klinikum Bochum, points out. All conservative and surgical therapy approaches failed.

First in the world: New therapy concept for large skin defects

Due to the poor prognosis, the Bochum-based team of paediatricians and plastic surgeons, in collaboration with Prof Dr Michele De Luca from the Center for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Modena, opted for an experimental therapy: the transplantation of genetically modified epidermal stem cells. Obtained from the patient via skin biopsy, these stem cells were processed in Modena. The researchers transferred the intact gene into acquired stem cells. During this process, so-called retroviral vectors were deployed, i.e. virus particles that had been specifically modified for gene transfer.

The genetically modified stem cells had been cultivated in a clean room laboratory and subsequently turned into transgenic transplants. After obtaining the parents' permission, authorities' approvals and certification of the operating rooms at the Bergmannsheil as genetic engineering facility, the transplantation went ahead.

Eighty percent of the body surface transplanted

At the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Bergmannsheil, the transplants were applied to the boy's arms and legs, entire back, flanks, and partially to the stomach, neck and face as well. "Overall, 0.94 square meters of transgenic epidermis were transplanted onto the young patient in order to cover all defects, accounting for 80 percent of his entire body surface," says Associate Professor Dr Tobias Hirsch, head consultant at the department of plastic surgery.

Following the first transplantation in October 2015, the patient's condition began to improve. The transgenic stem cells formed a new epidermis with intact binding proteins in all transplanted areas. The integration of the intact gene through retroviral gene transfer into the genome of the epidermal stem cells had been successful and was proven to be stable.

Excellent treatment result

In February 2016, the patient was discharged. Today, almost two years after the experimental therapy was initiated, high-quality, stress-resistant skin with intact hydrolipid film, as well as early formation of hair. No scar contractures have appeared in transplanted areas. Hassan is attending school again and is actively taking part in his family's social life.

According to the international medical team, Hassan is the first patient worldwide who has been treated with skin transplants from transgenic epidermal stem cells on a large body surface area. "This approach has enormous potential for research into and development of new therapies for the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa as well as other diseases and trauma causing large skin defects" says Tobias Hirsch.

Because of its large scale, the case is considered unique on a worldwide level. "Transplanting 80 percent of the skin and providing intensive medical care to the patient over a period of eight months was extremely challenging," Tobias Rothoeft and Tobias Hirsch point out. "The close collaboration between the departments in Bochum and the University of Modena's expertise have been the key to success. This makes us very proud."

Bochum-based doctors involved in the therapy

The doctors from Bochum who were involved in the therapy are Associate Professor Dr Tobias Hirsch at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Head Consultant of the Department of Plastic Surgery and Burn Unit at the Bergmannsheil (director: Prof Dr Marcus Lehnhardt); as well as Dr Tobias Rothoeft and Dr Norbert Teig, Consultants at the University Children's Hospital at Katholisches Klinikum Bochum (director: Prof Dr Thomas Lücke).

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Funding

The project was funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), n. CTN01_00177_888744; Regione Emilia-Romagna, Asse 1 POR-FESR 2007-13; Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Modena; DEBRA Südtirol - Alto Adige; DEBRA Austria; European Research Council (ERC) as part of the Horizon 2020 programme (Grant Agreement no. 670126-DENOVOSTEM) and ERC as part of the seventh framework programme for research(Grant Agreement no. 294780-NOVABREED); Epigenetics Flagship project CNR-MIUR grants.

Original publication

Tobias Hirsch, Tobias Rothoeft, Norbert Teig et. al.: Regeneration of the entire human epidermis by transgenic stem cells, in: Nature, 2017, DOI: 10.1038/nature24487 https:/ / www. nature. com/ nature/ journal/ vaop/ ncurrent/ full/ nature24487. html

About the Burn Center at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Since the 1960s, the Department of Plastic Surgery with its burn unit and the University Children's Hospital are jointly treating burn victims of all ages and trauma severity. Therefore, the Burn Center at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum belongs to one of the oldest burn units in Germany.

A capacity of eight beds at the Bergmannsheil and three beds at the Children's Hospital are available for severely burned patients.

About Bergmannsheil

Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil is one of the largest urgent care clinics for maximum treatment in the Ruhr area. Founded in 1890 as the world's first Accident and Emergency clinic to provide treatment after mining accidents, Bergmannsheil today comprises 23 highly specialised clinics and specialist departments with 707 beds in total under one roof. More than 2,300 members of staff ensure professional care of approximately 89,000 patients per annum.

Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil is part of the BG Kliniken healthcare group. The group incorporates nine urgent care clinics under the German occupational insurance scheme, two clinics for occupational hazards, and two Accident and Emergency centres. With 12,500 members of staff and in excess 550,000 patients, the group is one of the largest clinic associations in Germany. Moreover, Bergmannsheil is part of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum's university clinic (UK RUB). http://www. bergmannsheil. de , http://www. bg-kliniken. de

About Katholisches Klinikum Bochum

With 1,400 beds and approximately 4,300 members of staff from 59 countries, Katholisches Klinikum Bochum (KKB) is one of the largest and most efficient hospital alliances in the Ruhr area. Treatment and care are provided to patients from all across Germany - with more than 50,000 patients per year receiving stationary and more than 166,000 ambulatory treatments. Approximately 400 young professionals are trained on average every year.

Katholisches Klinikum Bochum is part of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum's University Hospitals. From obstetrics through paediatrics to geriatrics - patients of all ages are treated at KKB. The largest hospital and headquarters of the corporation is St Josef-Hospital. http://www. klinikum-bochum. de

Press contact

Assistant professor Dr Tobias Hirsch

Universitätsklinik für Plastische Chirurgie und Schwerbrandverletzte, Handchirurgiezentrum, Operatives

Referenzzentrum für Gliedmaßentumoren

Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil

Germany

49-234-302-0

tobias.hirsch@bergmannsheil.de

Dr Tobias Rothoeft

Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin

Klinikum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Germany

49-234-509-0

tobias.rothoeft@rub.de

Dr Jürgen Frech

Corporate Communications

Katholisches Klinikum Bochum

Germany

49-234-509-6104

j.frech@klinikum-bochum.de

Robin Jopp

Corporate Communications Strategic Unit

Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil

Germany

49-234-302-6125

robin.jopp@bergmannsheil.de

Editorial journalist: Robin Jopp