[Construction of tissue-engineering skin with carrier of active composite dermal matrix].

OBJECTIVE: To construct of tissue engineering skin including active composite dermal matrix. METHODS: The human fibroblasts and bovine collagen with type I were inoculated on the surface of porcine acellular dermal matrix (PADM) for construction of active dermal substitute, then epidermal cells were inoculated on the dermal matrix for gas-liquid interface culture. The tissue-engineering skin was observed by histological examinations. RESULTS: The structure of fibroblasts in collagen was intact, which was used to construct composite dermal matrix with PADM. The epithelial structure of tissue-engineering skin was similar to that of normal skin with good cell differentiation. Some phenomena were showed in epidermis: basic layer, stratum spinosum, granular layer and stratum corneum, desmosomes. CONCLUSION: Fibroblasts-Collagen-PADM can be an optimal dermal matrix for construction of tissue-engineering skin.

Growth activity of epidermal cells from different parts of human body.

BACKGROUND: Most epidermal cells used in skin tissue engineering are obtained from the skins of fetuses or prepuces, which can not be widely used in culturing and transplanting autologous epidermis for patients with extensive burn wounds. To solve the problem, in this study, we cultured epidermal cells from different parts of human body in vitro, and detected their growth activity. METHODS: Normal epidermal cells obtained from the prepuce, scalp, and axilla of male patients, were cultured and passaged. Their growth characteristics including adherent rate and growth activity were compared. Data were analyzed by homogeneity test of variance. RESULTS: In primary culture, the growth of epidermal cells from the prepuce was significantly faster than that of the epidermal cells from the scalp and axilla. In the cells obtained from the prepuce, 80% confluence was achieved on day 12, while on day 16 and day 20 in the cells from the scalp and axilla, respectively. However, no significant difference was detected in their growth and proliferation in the second passage. CONCLUSIONS: Although the growth of epidermal cells obtained from the scalp and axilla is slower than that from the prepuce in primary culture, stable cell line can be established and used in preparation of auto-epidermal grafts for patients with extensive burn wounds. Therefore, the scalp and axillary skin should be considered as important sources of epidermal cells other than the prepuce.

[Effect of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway on inflammatory reaction in intestine and its barrier function in rats with postburn sepsis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway inhibition on intestinal nuclear factor-KappaB (NF-KappaB) activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release as well as plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in rats with postburn sepsis. METHODS: Rats were subjected to 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness scald injury, followed by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic postburn sepsis. Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, sepsis group, sepsis with proteasome inhibitor N-Acetyl leucinyl leucinyl norleucinal (ALLN) treatment group and sepsis with NF-KappaB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) treatment group. NF-KappaB activity, TNF-alpha protein content, and plasma DAO activity were determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and spectrophotometric method, respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that NF-KappaB activity was markedly activated and reached its peak 1 hour after scalding and injection of LPS in each group (all P<0.01), then reduced gradually. Both ALLN and PDTC could decrease intestinal NF-KappaB activity at 1 hour and 2 hours after injury. TNF-alpha release was reduced by ALLN at 1 hour after injury (P<0.01). Plasma DAO activity was significantly elevated after scalding and injection of LPS (P<0.01). Pretreatment with PDTC or ALLN could not lower the activity of DAO. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that early treatment with inhibitor of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway might decrease the intestinal inflammatory reaction, but exert no effect on intestinal barrier function in rats with postburn sepsis.

[Acellular porcine dermal matrix produced with different methods and an experimental study on its transplantation to skin wound].

OBJECTIVE: To observed the effect of healing quality of composite skin grafting consisting of acellular porcine dermal matrix combined with autologous split-thickness skin graft. METHODS: Porcine skin was treated with dispase II/triton X-100 or hyperosmotic saline/sodium-dodecyl-sulfate (SDS) respectively, and acellular porcine dermal matrix I (APDMI) and APDM II were obtained. Sixty-three Sprague-Dawley rats with full-thickness skin defects on the back were separately covered with APDMT + split-thickness autologous skin, or APDM II + split-thickness autologous skin. The quality of wound healing was observed, the rates of survival and contraction of the grafts were calculated, the tissue samples were harvested for histological examination, and compared with that of autologous split-thickness skin graft. RESULTS: The wound healing quality of composite skin I, and II was good. There was no significant difference in the rate of survival and contraction of the grafts between the two composite skin grafting groups. It was indicated by histological examination intact basal membrane. There was no significant difference in the survival rate between composite skin grafting groups and autologous split-thickness skin at the 6 th week after operation, but the contraction rates of the grafts in the composite skin groups were lower. CONCLUSION: Full-thickness skin defect can be healed by covering with acellular porcine dermal matrix produced by two methods combined with split-thickness autograft, and it can help improve the quality of wound healing.