Bioengineered skin used to treat high blood pressure

A specially designed skin graft has been used to deliver molecules needed to treat high blood pressure in mice, and scientists say the same basic approach holds the promise to treat a number of conditions in humans.

Investigators at the National Cancer Institute and the University of Giessen and Marburg bioengineered skin cells using a retrovirus to insert a gene into the graft. "Skin grafts are relatively easy to construct," Dr. Jonathan Vogel says. "The desired gene can be placed in the upper part of the skin and also in the fibroblasts, which provide the supportive structure of the skin."

And the technique worked to control high blood pressure in mice fed a diet laden with salt. Researchers now say they want to see if the approach can work in larger animals, with an aim to try it in man at some stage. If they're successful, the scientists say that the same technique can be used to treat a variety of ailments, including anemia.

- here's the story from HealthDay News

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