title: Airway reconstruction with carrier-free cell sheets composed of autologous nasal squamous epithelium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although skin has been the most effective graft material for reconstructing the airway lumen, the use of squamous epithelium has many problems. If autologous airway squamous epithelium could differentiate into mucociliary epithelium after in vivo grafting, it could be an answer to these problems. In this study, we wanted to examine whether carrier-free nasal epithelial cell sheets composed of autologous squamous epithelium could be used as a substitute for skin in airway luminal reconstruction in three maxillectomy patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro biochemical experiments with in vivo applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  We cultured nasal squamous epithelium from three maxillary cancer patients prior to maxillectomy. These squamous cell sheets were grafted on the forearm free flap, and, after maxillectomy, the surgical defect was reconstructed with a prefabricated myocutaneous radial forearm free flap with the cultured nasal squamous epithelium. At 1 and 3 month intervals after the reconstructive surgery, the cultured cell grafted area was investigated with histologic phenotype, comparing the skin grafted area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The autologous nasal squamous epithelial cell sheet differentiated into mucociliary epithelium without the crust or mucus stagnation that is usually observed in cases in which skin graft is used for airway reconstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that autologous cultured nasal squamous epithelium, which differentiates into mucociliary epithelium after in vivo grafting, can be used as a clinically relevant substitute for skin graft in airway luminal reconstruction.
authors: Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors: Jaseok P
authors: JP
authors: Koo
authors: Chang-Hoon
authors: CH
authors: Kim
authors: Jeung-Gweon
authors: JG
authors: Lee
authors: Kyung-Su
authors: KS
authors: Kim
authors: Joo-Heon
authors: JH
authors: Yoon
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055233:Cornified Envelope Proline-Rich Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D055233:Cornified Envelope Proline-Rich Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; C105059:MUC8 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins; D012333:RNA, Messenger