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Organotypic cocultures as skin equivalents: A complex and sophisticated in vitro system

Biological Procedures Online volume 6, pages 55–60 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

To assess the role of genes required for skin organogenesis, tissue regeneration and homeostasis, we have established in vitro skin equivalents composed of primary cells or cell lines, respectively. In these organotypic cocultures keratinocytes generate a normal epidermis irrespective of the species and tissue origin of fibroblasts. The combination of cells derived from mouse and human tissues facilitates the identification of the origin of compounds involved in epidermal tissue reconstitution and thus the precise analysis of growth regulatory mechanisms.

Abbreviations

DMEM:

Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium

EGF:

epidermal growth factor

FCS:

fetal calf serum

HDF:

human dermal fibroblasts

MEF:

mouse embryonic fibroblasts

NEK:

normal epidermal keratinocytes

TGF-α:

transforming growth factor alpha

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Carcinogenesis and Differentiation, German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Hans-Jürgen Stark, Norbert E. Fusenig & Nicole Maas-Szabowski

  2. Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Axel Szabowski

Authors
  1. Hans-Jürgen Stark
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  2. Axel Szabowski
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  3. Norbert E. Fusenig
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  4. Nicole Maas-Szabowski
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Correspondence to Nicole Maas-Szabowski.

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Published: April 12, 2004

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Stark, HJ., Szabowski, A., Fusenig, N.E. et al. Organotypic cocultures as skin equivalents: A complex and sophisticated in vitro system. Biol. Proced. Online 6, 55–60 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1251/bpo72

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1251/bpo72

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Biological Procedures Online

ISSN: 1480-9222

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