The reconstructed human epidermis models in fundamental research

Abstract

Large skin trauma allows pathogens to invade, and causes water, electrolyte and protein loss, inducing adverse events often incompatible with sustained life if the wound is not rapidly covered and the lost tissue replaced. This last point is often critical in wound management because of the poor availability of skin samples. The recent advances in the in vitro techniques of keratinocyte culture have led to the development of several commercial skin substitutes. Although they represent significant advances in wound treatment, they are of relative efficacy and can induce adverse events such as infectious diseases and allergic reactions in patients with known sensitivity to materials of bovine origin [46]. Moreover, a risk of prior diseases is also present even if serum and/or collagen are sourced from countries theoretically free from bovine spongiform encephalitis [44]. Therefore, a more efficient and safe means of cultivation are needed in order to ensure the safety of the patient, such as the use of serum-free culture media. Moreover, for significant progresses in clinical efficacy, the understanding of the complex process of wound healing and development of the novel growth factor and gene therapies would benefit from research models that mimic closely the human skin epidermis/dermis structure, and in which studies of the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions could be possible. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.