Preparation of mixed keratinocyte and melanocyte cultures from biopsy specimens of pigmented skin sites of patients with vitiligo.

A method for preparation and expansion of mixed keratinocyte and melanocyte culture from human skin biopsy specimens was developed. The culture contains two melanocyte types: derivatives of hair follicle stem cells and epidermal basal layer stem cells. Fibroblasts were completely eliminated after culturing in selective medium.

CD24 and CD70 as differential markers of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in culture.

We developed a new method for evaluation of the purity of cell population in primary cultures of hepatocellular carcinoma. Expression of potential surface molecular markers on primary cultures of renal tumors was assayed by the method of flow cytofluorometry. CD24 and CD70 were identified as differential markers, which allowed us to distinguish cancer cells from tumor stromal cells in vitro. A negative marker CD90 was expressed on fibroblasts of the tumor stroma, but not on cancer cells. Combined use of these three markers allows evaluation of the severity of tumor culture contamination with stromal cells.