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Engineering a Human ‘Skin” with Adult Primary Cells.
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.1067-1927.2004.0abstractet.x
Subject(s) - human skin , epidermis (zoology) , matrix (chemical analysis) , dermis , skin equivalent , tissue engineering , connective tissue , wound healing , bandage , pathology , biology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , cell culture , chemistry , biomedical engineering , immunology , surgery , keratinocyte , chromatography , genetics
The inability to experiment in humans creates a great need to develop culture systems that mimic human tissues/organs. Skin is arguably the simplest human tissue and therefore provides an excellent prototype for tissue engineering. Moreover, skin is the body’s first line of defense. Currently available skin replacements have been classified into four categories: (i) those that are composed completely of epidermal cells; (ii) those consisting of dermal components derived from processing of cadaver skin or from collagen and other matrix molecules; (iii) those containing both dermal and epidermal components and (iv) those that contain dermal, epidermal and vascular components. All of these substitutes have 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 in this manner establish circulation in the “graft” increasing the chances of survival; (d) can be tailored for specific wound impairments (e) are long lasting. We have developed a new generation human “skin” that can fulfil 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 10–15 days. Moreover, two additional cell types, pericytes and monocytes, differentiate in situ adjacent to and within microvessels, respectively providing stability to the micriovessels and the epidermis expresses keratins that are typical of mature skin and not those characteristically produced in response to injury such as keratins 6, 16, 17. This tissue can potentially be developed into a skin replacement for patients with impaired healing. In addition, this tissue responds normally to bological stimuli, providing a powerful vehicle to investigate mechanisms of skin development and regeneration, understand pathological processes, and test drugs and treatments for skin diseases