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In vitro interactions between sensory nerves, epidermis, hair follicles and capillaries in a tissue‐engineered reconstructed skin
Author(s) -
Gag V.,
Gingras M.,
Germain L.,
Durham H. D.,
Berthod F.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/j.0906-6705.2004.212bf.x
Subject(s) - dermis , neurite , epidermis (zoology) , hair follicle , biology , wound healing , anatomy , angiogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology , sensory system , pathology , in vitro , neuroscience , medicine , immunology , cancer research , biochemistry
Recent findings have established that cutaneous nerves modulate both skin homeostasis and various skin diseases, by influencing cell growth and differentiation, inflammation and wound healing. In order to study the influence of epidermis, hair follicles and capillaries on sensory neurons, and vice‐versa, we developed a tissue‐engineered model of innervated endothelialized reconstructed skin (MIERS). Mouse dorsal root ganglia neurons were seeded on a collagen sponge populated with human fibroblasts and human endothelial cells. Keratinocytes or mice newborn immature hair follicle buds were then seeded on the opposite side of the MIERS to study their influence on sensory nerves growth, and vice versa. A vigorous neurite elongation was detected inside the reconstructed dermis after 14 and 31 days of neurons culture. The presence of endothelial cells induced a significant increase of the neurite elongation after 14 days of culture. The addition of human keratinocytes totally avoided the twofold decrease in the amount of neurites observed between 14 and 31 days in controls. We have successfully developed the MIERS that allowed us to study the effects of epidermis and capillaries on nerve growth. This model will be a useful tool to study the modulation of sensory nerves on wound healing, angiogenesis, hair growth and neurogenic inflammation in the skin.