Organotypic culture and surface plantation using umbilical cord epithelial cells: morphogenesis and expression of differentiation markers mimicking cutaneous epidermis.
BACKGROUND
The umbilical cord epithelium (UCE) is composed of a single epithelial layer covering mucous connective tissue and it is thought to derive from the amniotic epithelium. Interestingly, UCE cells express not only simple and mucous epithelial keratins (CK8 and CK4/CK13), but also stratified epithelial keratins (CK1/10) and cornified cell envelope (CCE)-associated proteins.


OBJECTIVE
To understand the nature of UCE, UCE cells were cultured under the same conditions of organotypic culture of epidermal keratinocytes and grafted onto the back of nude mice.


METHODS
UCE cells isolated from fresh umbilical cord specimens were cultured using serum-free keratinocyte growth medium, and plated on a fibroblast-populated collagen matrix using air-liquid interface methods. UCE cells were transplanted onto the back of Balb C nu/nu mice as a thin epithelial sheet grown on a collagen matrix.


RESULTS
UCE cells formed a multi-layered stratified epithelium both in organotypic culture and surface transplantation. Regarding the expression profile of differentiation-specific proteins, such as keratins, the CCE-precursor proteins and junctional proteins, the reconstructed epithelium showed a close similarity to natural epidermis in organotypic culture.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest the possibility that UCE cells can differentiate and organize into an epidermis-like structure, when exposed to the appropriate conditions which is similar to those of cutaneous epidermis.
Mizoguchi
Masayuki
M
Department of Dermatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Hongo 2-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. mizog@med.juntendo.ac.jp
Suga
Yasushi
Y
Sanmano
Borisut
B
Ikeda
Shigaku
S
Ogawa
Hideoki
H
D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology
D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007633:Keratins