Cell kinetics in a model of artificial skin. An immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analysis

Bioengineered organs raised in vitro are candidate substitutes fbr natural organs in biological, pharmacological and clinical applications. We have st udied cell kinetics in a human skin equivalent (HSE) using a combined immun ohistochemical and flow cytometric approach. Morphological analysis has sho wn that, relative to unstimulated natural skin, cell proliferation mainly o ccurs in the basal layer of the epidermal equivalent. Immunohistochemical a nd flow cytometric measurements of the growth fraction suggested a cell tur nover comparable to that of natural skin. Immunohistochemical labelling ind ices matched well with flow cytometric data. These observations are consist ent with morphological and histochemical data demonstrating normal cell dif ferentiation and tissue architecture in HSE and suggest that such HSE may b e a usefull substitute for human skin.