Illustration of stem cells healing a chronic wound

The Future of Healing: How Stem Cells are Revolutionizing Chronic Skin Ulcer Treatment

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their derivatives in offering new hope for those suffering from non-healing skin ulcers."

The skin serves as a crucial barrier, defending the body against external threats and facilitating rapid tissue repair. When injuries occur, the body initiates a complex healing process to restore skin integrity. However, in cases where normal healing is disrupted, chronic skin ulcers can develop, leading to persistent inflammation and tissue loss.

Non-healing chronic wounds present a significant challenge, particularly for aging individuals or those with conditions like obesity, diabetes, or vascular insufficiency. These wounds often resist conventional treatments, causing pain, loss of function, and increased risk of infection, severely impacting patients' physical and mental well-being and creating a substantial burden on healthcare systems.

Advances in regenerative medicine have paved the way for innovative cell-based therapies that promote wound healing by enhancing cell migration and differentiation. Among these, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their acellular derivatives have garnered attention as promising therapeutic agents for chronic skin ulcers, owing to their immunomodulatory and tissue-regenerative properties. This article explores the characteristics of MSCs, their regenerative mechanisms, and their potential in treating chronic skin ulcers.

What Makes Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) Special?

Illustration of stem cells healing a chronic wound

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells, meaning they can differentiate into various cell types, including bone, cartilage, and fat cells. MSCs are found in various tissues, including bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord blood. Their therapeutic potential stems from several key characteristics:

MSCs offer several advantages over other stem cell populations:

Low Immunogenicity: MSCs have a reduced ability to trigger an immune response, making them suitable for allogeneic transplantation (using cells from a donor).
Anti-inflammatory Properties: MSCs can secrete factors that modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation, a key factor in chronic wound healing.
Ease of Culture and Expansion: MSCs can be easily grown and expanded in the laboratory, allowing for the production of sufficient cell numbers for therapeutic applications.
Acellular Derivatives: MSCs can produce therapeutic effects via paracrine signaling even through their acellular derivatives, offering a novel approach for treatment.

Researchers are actively investigating MSCs from cadaveric sources to overcome barriers and improve procedures. After isolation and expansion, combined treatment (conventional and CMSCs) was administered to the patient, who did not have any immunological rejection and was monitored during 35 days. The authors observed a faster growth of granulation dermal-like tissue and new epidermis compared to the control group

The Future of Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Wounds

While MSC-based therapies hold immense promise for treating chronic skin ulcers, several challenges remain. Standardizing routes for MSC delivery, optimizing cell engraftment, and understanding the long-term effects of these treatments are crucial for maximizing their therapeutic potential.

Further research is focused on:

The future of chronic wound management lies in harnessing the regenerative power of stem cells and their derivatives. By addressing the existing challenges and continuing to explore novel approaches, researchers and clinicians can pave the way for more effective and accessible treatments, ultimately improving the lives of millions affected by these debilitating conditions.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4172/2157-7633.1000423, Alternate LINK

Title: Function And Therapeutic Potential Of Mesenchymal Stem Cells And Their Acellular Derivatives On Non-Healing Chronic Skin Ulcers

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Publisher: OMICS Publishing Group

Authors: Victor Alfonso Solarte, Silvia Becerra Bayona, Lissette Sánchez Aranguren, Claudia L Sossa, Alvaro Meana, Jesus Merayo Lloves, Martha L Arango Rodriguez

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and why are they important for treating skin ulcers?

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells that can differentiate into various cell types such as bone, cartilage, and fat cells. These cells are found in tissues like bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord blood. Their importance lies in their ability to promote tissue repair and modulate the immune system. This makes them a promising therapeutic option for chronic skin ulcers because they can address the underlying issues preventing healing, such as inflammation and impaired cell migration.

What is the role of skin and what problems can arise that make Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) relevant?

The primary function of the skin is to act as a barrier, protecting the body. When injuries occur, the body initiates a healing process to restore skin integrity. However, in chronic skin ulcers, this process is disrupted, resulting in persistent inflammation and tissue loss. This condition can lead to pain, loss of function, and an increased risk of infection, which impacts the patient's physical and mental well-being. Traditional treatments often fail, making new approaches like mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) essential.

What makes Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) a promising treatment for chronic skin ulcers?

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered a promising treatment because they have low immunogenicity, meaning they are less likely to be rejected by the body. They also possess anti-inflammatory properties, secrete factors that modulate the immune system, and are relatively easy to culture and expand in the lab. Furthermore, the acellular derivatives of MSCs can also produce therapeutic effects via paracrine signaling. These characteristics collectively make MSCs a favorable option for promoting wound healing by enhancing cell migration and differentiation in the context of chronic skin ulcers.

What are acellular derivatives, and how are they related to Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the context of treatment?

Acellular derivatives refer to the therapeutic effects produced by Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) without the presence of the cells themselves. These derivatives are important because they can still offer therapeutic benefits. They can be derived from MSCs and include factors that promote healing. This approach provides an alternative treatment strategy, as it utilizes the beneficial components produced by MSCs to stimulate tissue repair. This expands the possibilities for treating chronic skin ulcers, as it offers a novel approach independent of the cells themselves.

What are the current challenges in using Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for chronic skin ulcers?

While Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show great promise, challenges remain. Researchers are working on standardizing delivery methods, optimizing cell engraftment (the process where cells integrate into the target tissue), and understanding the long-term impacts of MSC-based treatments. These efforts are crucial for maximizing the therapeutic benefits and ensuring the safety and efficacy of MSC therapies for chronic skin ulcers. Furthermore, investigating MSCs from cadaveric sources is a way to enhance procedures and overcome barriers to treatment.