ABSTRACT
Objective To explore a method for isolation and culture of human epidermal stem cells. Methods Epidermis was obtained by digesting human foreskin with Dispase Ⅱ and Trypsin-EDTA.After suspension on the epidermal stem cell medium (ESCM), these single epidermis cells were inoculated onto human collagen Ⅳ-coated flasks and cultured at 37 ℃ in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO_2 for 10 min. The nonadherent cells were rinsed off 10 min after inoculation, and the adherent cells continued to be cultured after enriching and abstraction by type Ⅳ collagen. The cell growth was observed through inverted microscope, and the cell cloning efficiency and time of clone sustain were also detected. Immunocytochemistry was used to observe the expression of ?_1-integrin and keratin 19(K19). Keratinocytes were served as controls. Results It was revealed by histological observation that colonies were formed 24 hours after inoculation. The isolated and cultured cell cloning efficiency was higher and the time of clone sustain was longer than that of the control group. Positive expression of ?_1-integrin and K19 of cultured cells was detected by immunocytochemistry. Conclusion Adult epidermal stem cells could be successfully isolated and cultured by adhension with type Ⅳ collagen and culture with ESCM.