A new model for studying the development of human hypertrophic burn scar formation

Hypertrophic scar formation remains the major problem for severely burned patients who survive their injuries. This scarring can result in both cosmetic and functional deformities. One of the major problems in dealing with this complication is the lack of an adequate animal model with which to test various possible therapeutic modalities. We describe an animal model that uses human skin applied to the backs of nude mice to investigate the problem. Immunosuppression is not necessary in this model since the nude mouse lacks a thymus gland and is therefore not able to reject the skin. With this model we have been able to achieve contracture of meshed normal human skin grafts and hypertrophic scar formation in normal human skin that was burned a month after grafting to the mouse. We have also had success in grafting human hypertrophic scars, obtained from burn patients, to the mice. This model offers unique opportunities for investigation of the cause and treatment of burn scars in humans.