A three-dimensional skin culture model for mouse keratinocytes: application to transgenic mouse keratinocytes

The study of mouse epidermal biology has been hampered by the lack of a goo d in vitro model for the culture of mouse keratinocytes which allowed the r econstruction of a fully differentiated epidermis. We adapted the Prunieras ' model, also called the Dead de-Epidermized Dermis model (DED), to mouse k eratinocytes and showed that a neo-epidermis can be reconstructed exhibitin g a complete differentiation program. We also used this model to culture tr ansgenic mouse keratinocytes. We observed that transgene expression occurre d in the correct location and that the neo-epidermis mimed previous in vivo observations obtained with integrin skin-targeted transgenic mice. Therefo re, this model will be a powerful tool to further investigate normal mouse and transgenic keratinocyte biology.