文摘
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare blistering skin disorder characterized by extensive clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Current treatment of EB patients is limited to mainly symptomatic (wound) therapies. New molecular therapeutic approaches, based on the concept of translational medicine, open up prospects of significantly improved management strategies. In particular, ex vivo gene therapy or stem-cell skin therapy using human epidermal cells in combination with correcting retroviral cDNA, represent promising methods for the treatment of EB. Keratinocytes obtained from small skin biopsies can be expanded in culture comparatively easily following the identification and selection of epidermal stem cells and transfection. Epidermal grafts of corrected stem cells are then transplanted to chronic, non-healing wounds of EB patients. Thus, it is possible to ameliorate clinical symptoms of the EB in the long term or eventually permanently. Further, interconnected molecular biological and clinical research in the EB-House Austria in Salzburg has led to the development of an anti-inflammatory cream. The active compound is the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAP) diacerein, which shows a significant improvement in the phenotypic expression in EB simplex patients, with predominant reduction of blistering. Diacerein inhibits distinct stress signalling cascades through regulatory activity on inflammatory cytokines and IL-1β. By obtaining the “orphan designation” of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), an ongoing development of this new drug can be pursued in a large European study, with expected marketing approval in near future. Keywords Epidermolysis bullosa Ex vivo gene therapy Stemcell therapy Revertant mosaic in EB Diacerein creme