Premium
130
Development and Characterization of a Skin Organ Culture that Resembles Human Skin
Author(s) -
MartinsGreen M.,
Li QiJing,
Yao Min
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1111/j.1067-1927.2004.0abstractdx.x
Subject(s) - human skin , epidermis (zoology) , connective tissue , wound healing , matrix (chemical analysis) , skin equivalent , keratin , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , medicine , cell culture , anatomy , immunology , chemistry , keratinocyte , genetics , chromatography
The inability to experiment in humans creates a need to develop culture systems that mimic human tissues/organs. Skin is arguably the simplest tissue hence provides an excellent prototype for tissue engineering. Moreover, skin is the body’s first line of defense. Currently available skin replacements have a number of drawbacks. Therefore, there is a need for skin replacements that: (a) are prepared with pertinent primary human cells but yet can be ready “off” the shelf; (b) can be prepared rapidly; (c) contain stable structures, in particular microvessels that can rapidly connect with the patient’s vasculature, thereby establishing circulation in the “graft” and increasing the chances of survival; (d) can be tailored for specific wound impairments (e) are long lasting. We have developed a generation human “skin” that can fulfill these requirements and can potentially be used as a “living bandage”. We start with three primary human cell types and a collagen matrix that self‐assemble into a connective tissue containing a network of mature microvessels, is covered with a stratified epidermis, expresses biochemical markers, matrix molecules, and cytokines characteristic of normal human skin, and matures in 10–15days. Moreover, two additional cell types, pericytes and monocytes, differentiate in situ adjacent to and within microvessels, respectively. The epidermis expresses keratins typical of mature skin and not characteristically produced in response to injury such as keratins 6, 16, 17. This tissue potentially can be developed into a skin replacement for patients with impaired healing. In addition, it responds normally to biological stimuli, providing a powerful vehicle to investigate mechanisms of skin development and regeneration, understand pathological processes, and test drugs and treatments for skin diseases.