Dynamic Culture Substrates That Mimic the Topography of the Epidermal-Dermal Junction.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 30280972.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1089/ten.TEA.2018.0125 and PMC identifier 6388717.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
In human skin the junction between the epidermis and dermis undulates. Epidermal stem cells pattern according to their position relative to those undulations. Here we describe a rig in which epidermal cells are cultured on a collagen-coated poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) membrane. When a vacuum is applied the membrane is induced to undulate. Stem cells cluster in response to the vacuum, whereas differentiating cells do not. Rho kinase inhibition results in loss of clustering, suggesting a role for Rho family members in the process. This dynamic platform is a new tool for investigating changes in the skin with age and disease.
Medical subject headings
- Cell Differentiation
- Coated Materials, Biocompatible
- Dermis
- Epidermis
- Keratinocytes
- Membranes, Artificial
- Stem Cells