Human reconstructed skin in a mouse model

Abstract

Currently, no ideal in vivo skin model, to exactly mimic the native human skin, has been utilized for laboratory and clinical application. Here, we describe a method to in vivo reconstitute a human skin model, so-called hRSK, by using culture-expanded skin cells. We grafted a mixture of dissociated human epidermal and dermal cells onto an excision wound on the back of immunodeficient mouse to generate the hRSK, and the hRSK, containing epidermis, dermis, and subcutis and also appendages such as hair follicles, histologically mirrors in situ human skin.