Journal article
Successful grafting of tissue-engineered fetal skin.
- Mazzone L Department of Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. luca.mazzone@kispi.uzh.ch.
- Pratsinis M Department of Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Pontiggia L Tissue Biology Research Unit, Department of Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Reichmann E Tissue Biology Research Unit, Department of Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Meuli M Department of Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- 2016-09-22
Published in:
- Pediatric surgery international. - 2016
Fetal
Myelomeningocele
Skin
Spina bifida
Tissue engineering
Animals
Cells, Cultured
Collagen
Fetus
Hydrogels
Keratinocytes
Models, Animal
Rats
Sheep
Skin Transplantation
Skin, Artificial
Tissue Engineering
English
PURPOSE
Fetal repair of spina bifida results in improved outcomes and has therefore become a standard clinical procedure in some highly specialized centers. However, optimization of the procedure technique and timing is needed. Both might be achieved by facilitating the procedure using laboratory-grown fetal skin substitutes. The aim of this study was therefore to test in vivo the suitability of such a fetal skin substitute for an in utero application.
METHODS
Collagen-based hydrogels containing fetal ovine fibroblasts were seeded with fetal ovine keratinocytes and transplanted on immuno-incompetent nu/nu rats. After 3 weeks, grafts were harvested and analyzed histologically and by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS
Laboratory-grown fetal ovine dermo-epidermal skin substitutes showed successful engraftment at 3 weeks. Histologically, grafts revealed a neo-dermis populated by fibroblasts and with ingrowth of vessels, and an epidermis with an adult-like, mature appearance depicting clearly basal, spinous, granular, and a corneal layer. Immunostaining confirmed a physiologically organized epidermis.
CONCLUSION
Fetal dermo-epidermal skin substitutes of ovine origin can successfully be grafted in vivo. In a next step, we will have to test whether favorable results can also be obtained when grafts are used in utero. If so, then human fetal spina bifida repair using laboratory-grown autologous fetal skin for defect closure may be envisaged.
Fetal repair of spina bifida results in improved outcomes and has therefore become a standard clinical procedure in some highly specialized centers. However, optimization of the procedure technique and timing is needed. Both might be achieved by facilitating the procedure using laboratory-grown fetal skin substitutes. The aim of this study was therefore to test in vivo the suitability of such a fetal skin substitute for an in utero application.
METHODS
Collagen-based hydrogels containing fetal ovine fibroblasts were seeded with fetal ovine keratinocytes and transplanted on immuno-incompetent nu/nu rats. After 3 weeks, grafts were harvested and analyzed histologically and by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS
Laboratory-grown fetal ovine dermo-epidermal skin substitutes showed successful engraftment at 3 weeks. Histologically, grafts revealed a neo-dermis populated by fibroblasts and with ingrowth of vessels, and an epidermis with an adult-like, mature appearance depicting clearly basal, spinous, granular, and a corneal layer. Immunostaining confirmed a physiologically organized epidermis.
CONCLUSION
Fetal dermo-epidermal skin substitutes of ovine origin can successfully be grafted in vivo. In a next step, we will have to test whether favorable results can also be obtained when grafts are used in utero. If so, then human fetal spina bifida repair using laboratory-grown autologous fetal skin for defect closure may be envisaged.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1007/s00383-016-3977-z
- PMID 27651371
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/147721
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