title: Three-dimensional hydrogel scaffolds facilitate in vitro self-renewal of human skin-derived precursors.
abstract: Skin-derived precursors (SKPs) are multipotent cells with dermal stem cell properties. These easily available cells possess the capacity to reconstitute the skin in vivo, as well as a broader differentiation potential in vitro, which endows them with great prospects in regenerative medicine. However, the present authors' group and others previously found that adult human SKPs (hSKPs) expanded deficiently in vitro, which largely counteracted their research and practical values. Taking the physiological micro-environment of hSKPs into consideration, the authors sought to establish a hydrogel scaffold-based three-dimensional (3-D) culture system for hSKPs in the present study. After comparing their morphology, growth characteristics, signature gene expression and differentiation potential in different hydrogels, the present authors found that a chemically defined hyaluronic acid and denatured collagen-based hydrogel system that mimicked the natural niche of hSKPs in the dermis could alleviate hSKP senescence, support hSKP proliferation as spheres, while largely retaining their properties and potential. This study suggested that recapitulating the in vivo stem cell niche by providing them with 3-D extracellular matrix environments could help them achieve better self-renewal in vitro. In addition, the animal-origin-free and biocompatible 3-D hydrogel system will certainly benefit fundamental research and clinical applications of hSKPs in the near future.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, People's Republic of China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xinyue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: PharmaPhase (Beijing) Co., Ltd, 100193 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, 10094 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, People's Republic of China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, People's Republic of China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Huishan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, People's Republic of China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, People's Republic of China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Huashan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, People's Republic of China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhili
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Animal Science and Technology College, Beijing University of Agriculture, 102206 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jingqiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yujing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: liushuang@ioz.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: duane@ioz.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Enkui
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels
keywords: 3-D cell culture; Hydrogel; Self-renewal; Skin-derived precursors; Stem cells