The human skin fulfills important barrier, sensory, and immune functionsââ?¬â?all of which contribute significantly to health and\norganism integrity. Widespread skin damage requires immediate treatment and coverage because massive skin loss fosters the\ninvasion of pathogens, causes critical fluid loss, and may ultimately lead to death. Since the skin is a highly immunocompetent\norgan, autologous transplants are the only viable approach to permanently close a widespread skin wound. Despite the\ndevelopment of tissue-saving autologous transplantation techniques such as mesh and Meek grafts, treatment options for\nextensive skin damage remain severely limited. Yet, the skin is also a rich source of stem and progenitor cells. These cells\npromote wound healing under physiological conditions and are potential sources for tissue engineering approaches aiming to\naugment transplantable tissue by generating cultured epidermal autografts (CEAs). Here, we review autologous tissue\nengineering strategies as well as transplantation products based on skin-derived stem cells. We further provide an overview of\nclinical trial activities in the field and discuss relevant translational and clinical challenges associated with the use of these products.
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