Development of a Static Avascular and Dynamic Vascular Human Skin Equivalent Employing Collagen/Keratin Hydrogels.
Int J Mol Sci
; 25(9)2024 May 03.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38732209
ABSTRACT
One of the primary complications in generating physiologically representative skin tissue is the inability to integrate vasculature into the system, which has been shown to promote the proliferation of basal keratinocytes and consequent keratinocyte differentiation, and is necessary for mimicking representative barrier function in the skin and physiological transport properties. We created a 3D vascularized human skin equivalent (VHSE) with a dermal and epidermal layer, and compared keratinocyte differentiation (immunomarker staining), epidermal thickness (H&E staining), and barrier function (transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and dextran permeability) to a static, organotypic avascular HSE (AHSE). The VHSE had a significantly thicker epidermal layer and increased resistance, both an indication of increased barrier function, compared to the AHSE. The inclusion of keratin in our collagen hydrogel extracellular matrix (ECM) increased keratinocyte differentiation and barrier function, indicated by greater resistance and decreased permeability. Surprisingly, however, endothelial cells grown in a collagen/keratin extracellular environment showed increased cell growth and decreased vascular permeability, indicating a more confluent and tighter vessel compared to those grown in a pure collagen environment. The development of a novel VHSE, which incorporated physiological vasculature and a unique collagen/keratin ECM, improved barrier function, vessel development, and skin structure compared to a static AHSE model.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Skin
/
Keratinocytes
/
Collagen
/
Hydrogels
/
Keratins
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Mol Sci
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Estados Unidos
Country of publication:
Suiza