1. Chimeric autologous/allogeneic constructs for skin regeneration.
- Author
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Rasmussen, Cathy Ann, Tam, Joshua, Steiglitz, Barry M, Bauer, Rebecca L, Peters, Noel R, Wang, Ying, Anderson, R Rox, and Allen-Hoffmann, B Lynn
- Subjects
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KERATINOCYTES , *AUTOGRAFTS , *CELL culture , *CELL physiology , *COMPARATIVE studies , *HOMOGRAFTS , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICAL cooperation , *PLANTS , *REGENERATION (Biology) , *RESEARCH , *SKIN physiology , *SKIN grafting , *WOUND healing , *TISSUE engineering , *EVALUATION research , *PHENOMENOLOGICAL biology , *TRANSPLANTATION of organs, tissues, etc. - Abstract
The ideal treatment for severe cutaneous injuries would eliminate the need for autografts and promote fully functional, aesthetically pleasing autologous skin regeneration. NIKS progenitor cell-based skin tissues have been developed to promote healing by providing barrier function and delivering wound healing factors. Independently, a device has recently been created to "copy" skin by harvesting full-thickness microscopic tissue columns (MTCs) in lieu of autografts traditionally harvested as sheets. We evaluated the feasibility of combining these two technologies by embedding MTCs in NIKS-based skin tissues to generate chimeric autologous/allogeneic constructs. Chimeric constructs have the potential to provide immediate wound coverage, eliminate painful donor site wounds, and promote restoration of a pigmented skin tissue possessing hair follicles, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands. After MTC insertion, chimeric constructs and controls were reintroduced into air-interface culture and maintained in vitro for several weeks. Tissue viability, proliferative capacity, and morphology were evaluated after long-term culture. Our results confirmed successful MTC insertion and integration, and demonstrated the feasibility of generating chimeric autologous/allogeneic constructs that preserved the viability, proliferative capacity, and structure of autologous pigmented skin. These feasibility studies established the proof-of-principle necessary to further develop chimeric autologous/allogeneic constructs for the treatment of complex skin defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
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