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Endothelial network formed with human dermal microvascular endothelial cells in autologous multicellular skin substitutes

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Abstract

A human skin equivalent from a single skin biopsy harboring keratinocytes and melanocytes in the epidermal compartment, and fibroblasts and microvascular dermal endothelial cells in the dermal compartment was developed. The results of the study revealed that the nature of the extracellular matrix of the dermal compartments plays an important role in establishment of endothelial network in vitro. With rat-tail type I collagen matrices only lateral but not vertical expansion of endothelial networks was observed. In contrast, the presence of extracellular matrix of entirely human origin facilitated proper spatial organization of the endothelial network. Namely, when human dermal fibroblasts and microvascular endothelial cells were seeded on the bottom of an inert filter and subsequently epidermal cells were seeded on top of it, fibroblasts produced extracellular matrix throughout which numerous branched tubes were spreading three-dimensionally. Fibroblasts also facilitated the formation of basement membrane at the epidermal/matrix interface. Under all culture conditions, fully differentiated epidermis was formed with numerous melanocytes present in the basal epidermal cell layer. The results of the competitive RT-PCR revealed that both keratinocytes and fibroblasts expressed VEGF-A, -B, -C, aFGF and bFGF mRNA, whereas fibroblasts also expressed VEGF-D mRNA. At protein level, keratinocytes produced 10 times higher amounts of VEGF-A than fibroblasts did. The generation of multicellular skin equivalent from a single human skin biopsy will stimulate further developments for its application in the treatment of full-thickness skin defects. The potential development of biodegradable, biocompatible material suitable for these purposes is a great challenge for future research.

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Abbreviations

3-D:

three-dimensional

A/L:

air–liquid interface

bFGF:

basic fibroblast growth factor

DMEM:

Dulbecco modified Eagle’s medium

ECM:

extracellular matrix

EGF:

epidermal growth factor

ELISA:

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Fm:

fibroblasts from monoculture

Fco:

fibroblasts from co-culture

Ffil:

fibroblasts from filter-separated co-cultures

hDMVEC:

human dermal microvascular endothelial cells

HPTLC:

high performance thin layer chromatography

HUVEC:

human umbilical endothelial cells

IL-6:

interleukin 6

K:

keratin

Km:

keratinocytes from monoculture

Kco:

keratinocytes from co-culture

Kfil:

keratinocytes from filter-separated co-cultures (K5, K1, K0 –keratinocyte medium supplemented with 5% serum, 1% serum or serum-free, respectively)

KGF:

keratinocyte growth factor

NHS:

normal human serum

PBS:

phosphate buffered saline

PDGF:

platelet derived growth factor

PlGF:

placenta derived growth factor

PMA:

phorbol esters

TGF-β1:

transforming growth factor

TNF-α:

tumor necrosis factor

VEGF:

vascular endothelial growth factor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, 9503, 2300, RA Leiden, The Netherlands

    Maria Ponec, Abdoelwaheb El Ghalbzouri, Remco Dijkman & Johanna Kempenaar

  2. Isotis, Bilthoven

    Abdoelwaheb El Ghalbzouri

  3. Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Gabri van der Pluijm

  4. Department of Tissue Repair, Gaubius Laboratory TNO-PG, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Pieter Koolwijk

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  1. Maria Ponec
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  2. Abdoelwaheb El Ghalbzouri
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  3. Remco Dijkman
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  4. Johanna Kempenaar
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  5. Gabri van der Pluijm
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  6. Pieter Koolwijk
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Correspondence to Maria Ponec.

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Ponec, M., Ghalbzouri, A.E., Dijkman, R. et al. Endothelial network formed with human dermal microvascular endothelial cells in autologous multicellular skin substitutes. Angiogenesis 7, 295–305 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10456-004-6315-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10456-004-6315-3

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