Is the scar is a blessing or a curse? - This question has no clear answer - emphasised in an interview with PAP Prof. Barbara Gawrońska-Kozak from the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, who conducts research into scar-free wound healing.

"Scar is a blessing, because its formation after cutting creates a barrier between the interior of the body and the environment, and prevents the ingress of dangerous bacteria or viruses through an open wound. But the scars can also be a curse. Burn scars, so common in children, may limit growth, joint mobility, cause deformities that are a source of psychological complexes and inhibitions" - said Prof. Gawrońska-Kozak.

Similarly, post-traumatic or post-operative scars, particularly those expanding beyond the area of injury, often located on the face, neck and chest. The tragic events in the mines, like in the mine Mysłowice-Wesoła, associated with the explosion of methane, draw attention to the helplessness of otherwise excellent burn treatment centres when it comes to saving the most severely wounded - she added.

Prof. Gawrońska-Kozak noted that amphibians, for example, handle the problem of healing and scarring differently. Lost amphibian organ (e.g. tail) grows back in the process of regeneration and functions exactly like the lost one. Another advantage of amphibians is scar-free healing of the wounded skin. "It is believed that scar-free healing is the first step towards regeneration of the entire lost organ. Our distant ancestors had this ability, but it was lost" - she noted.

Scientists have long been intrigued by the question: do we, humans, have similar, but unused mechanisms of regeneration? The only example of scar-free healing is our skin while we still remain in the womb. "Surgery performed on a foetus, and these often save lives of unborn children, do not leave any traces of surgical intervention. A child is born without a scar. This amazing ability is lost shortly after birth and for the rest of our lives post-traumatic spots mark our skin with scars" - she explained.

"Despite enormous efforts to learn and understand of the mechanisms of scar-free healing and regeneration, these phenomena still remain a mystery" - said Prof. Gawrońska-Kozak.

Research conducted at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn focuses on solving this puzzle. Research model is a special kind of mouse, in which even in adulthood skin injuries heal scar-free, like in amphibians. Preliminary results of animal studies are very promising - emphasised Prof. Gawrońska-Kozak.

But - she explained - only when the results are documented on human tissues, we can expect new solutions, new drugs and therapies that lead to scar-free healing. An additional problem the researchers are facing is a huge diversity of people. This leads to different skin structure depending on the age, body weight, illnesses, sex, hormonal changes, and even the skin sample collection sites.

It is therefore necessary to test material taken from many people. "All these aspects prompted us to establish cooperation with a group of doctors from the Provincial Hospital and Children\'s Hospital in Olsztyn. The objective of the cooperation is to create a unique nationwide skin tissue bank" - emphasised scientist.

The research project has gained unanimous approval of the ethics committee, which is composed of representatives of doctors, scientists and ethicists. But the tissue bank can be created only with good will and acceptance of patients. Thus, scientists are turning to patients asking for consent to transfer a small amount of skin tissue. During treatment of injuries or planned operations, small fragments of skin tissues are sometimes removed as useless.

"For scientists, a 5 mm skin sample (half the size of the smallest fingernail), is a priceless treasure in the research. That amount of tissue allows to identify of 300 genes by molecular biological methods and, consequently, identify factors that contribute to the development of scars. And this is a big step towards the development of new drugs and therapies. All donors remain anonymous. Only their doctors know the histories of these people. For the study to start, we need 700 skin samples" - explained Prof. Gawrońska-Kozak.

She added that the project to establish a skin tissue bank is the first step on the way to solving the mystery of scar-free healing, in the future which may lead to saving lives and alleviating the sufferings of many patients.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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