OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the human amniotic membrane (HAM) loaded with human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) on the skin wounds of SD rats.

METHODSThe amniotic epithelial cells were removed by trypsin digestion, hAMSCs were loaded onto HAM and then covered on rats' skin defects. The wound healing was observed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry, and the results were compared with the amniotic membrane group and blank control group.

RESULTSThe average wound healing time was (18.3 +/- 0.9) d in the HAM load with hAMSCs group, which was significantly faster than those in the blank control group [(26.4 +/- 0.7) d, P < 0.01] and the amniotic membrane group [(21.5 +/- 1.2) d, P < 0.05]. After 11 d and 14 d, the wound healing rates in the HAM load with hAMSCs group were (81.5 +/- 7.2)% and (94.3 +/- 3.6)%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the blank control group [(48.5 +/- 3.2)% and (74.3 +/- 4.3 )%] and the amniotic membrane group [(68.5 +/- 4.5)% and (86.8 +/- 4.8)%] (all P < 0.01). Skin biopsy/HE staining confirmed that the quality of wound healing in the HAM load with hAMSCs group was significantly better than in the amniotic membrane group and the blank control group. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of CK19-positive epidermal stem cells in the HAM load with hAMSCs group (48.2 +/- 3.2) was significantly larger than those in the amniotic membrane group (37.7 +/- 3.1) (P < 0.05) and the blank control group (29.6 +/- 2.4) (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the vascular endothelial growth factor expression (64.5 +/- 4.5) in the HAM load with hAMSCs group was also significantly higher than those in the amniotic membrane group (52.6 +/- 3.8) (P < 0.05) and the blank control group (40.7 +/- 3.1) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHAM loaded with hAMSCs may promote the repair of skin wounds by promoting the regeneration of epidermal stem cells and capillaries.