Enhanced cell survival of melanocyte spheroids in serum starvation condition.
Autologous melanocyte transplantation for vitiligo treatment by use of melanocyte suspension has drawbacks including cell damage in cell preparation and transportation, difficult manipulation and low engraftment rate in acral vitiligious lesions. We have proposed the concept of cellular patch as an alternative solution. In the development of melanocyte patches, we have shown that chitosan membrane supports the growth and phenotype expression of melanocytes. Surprisingly, melanocytes spontaneously grow into three-dimensional spheroids on chitosan-coated surface. In this work, we demonstrate that, compared with monolayered melanocytes, melanocyte spheroids show a better survival in growth factor and serum-deprived condition. Survival of melanocytes is further ameliorated when a greater portion of melanocytes is precultured into spheroidal morphology. Melanocyte spheroids disintegrate and the cells return to a physiological dendritic morphology after they are reinoculated on collagen I-coated surface. Our results show that melanocytes are morphologically transformable depending on the substratum used and spheroidal melanocytes have a superior survival to that of monolayered dendritic melanocytes in stringent conditions. Preculturing melanocytes into spheroids can provide melanocytes a survival advantage. Chitosan-based melanocyte patch can be a promising method to enhance the engraftment rate and facilitate the cell preparation and transplantation procedures in melanocyte transplantation for vitiligo treatment.
Lin
Sung-Jan
SJ
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Jee
Shiou-Hwa
SH
Hsiao
Wen-Chu
WC
Yu
Hsin-Su
HS
Tsai
Tsen-Fang
TF
Chen
Jau-Shiuh
JS
Hsu
Chih-Jung
CJ
Young
Tai-Horng
TH
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048271:Chitosan; D024042:Collagen Type I; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D024042:Collagen Type I; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D006133:Growth Substances; D048271:Chitosan