Growth of cultured human epidermal cells into multiple epithelia suitable for grafting.

Abstract

Owing to several recent developments, the cultivability of epidermal keratinocytes, particularly those of the human, has greatly improved. Under the conditions used, single cultured cells generate stratified colonies that ultimately fuse and form an epithelium that is a reasonable approximation of the epidermis. Large amounts of cultured epithelium can be generated from a small piece of epidermis in a short time. The possibility of using culture-grown epithelium derived from the same individual to restore defects in the epidermis is emphasized.