title: The effect of keratinocytes on the biomechanical characteristics and pore microstructure of tissue engineered skin using deep dermal fibroblasts.
abstract: Fibrosis affects most organs, it results in replacement of normal parenchymal tissue with collagen-rich extracellular matrix, which compromises tissue architecture and ultimately causes loss of function of the affected organ. Biochemical pathways that contribute to fibrosis have been extensively studied, but the role of biomechanical signaling in fibrosis is not clearly understood. In this study, we assessed the effect keratinocytes have on the biomechanical characteristics and pore microstructure of tissue engineered skin made with superficial or deep dermal fibroblasts in order to determine any biomaterial-mediated anti-fibrotic influences on tissue engineered skin. Tissue engineered skin with deep dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes were found to be less stiff and contracted and had reduced number of myofibroblasts and lower expression of matrix crosslinking factors compared to matrices with deep fibroblasts alone. However, there were no such differences between tissue engineered skin with superficial fibroblasts and keratinocytes and matrices with superficial fibroblasts alone. Also, tissue engineered skin with deep fibroblasts and keratinocytes had smaller pores compared to those with superficial fibroblasts and keratinocytes; pore size of tissue engineered skin with deep fibroblasts and keratinocytes were not different from those matrices with deep fibroblasts alone. A better understanding of biomechanical characteristics and pore microstructure of tissue engineered skin may prove beneficial in promoting normal wound healing over pathologic healing.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Alberta, 2D3.81 WMSHC, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada.
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varkey
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Alberta, 2D3.81 WMSHC, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Alberta, 2D3.81 WMSHC, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada; Critical Care Medicine, University of Alberta, 2D3.81 WMSHC, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada. Electronic address: etredget@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Edward E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Tredget
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016062:Porosity; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials
keywords: Biomechanical characteristics; Keratinocytes; Pore microstructure; Tissue engineered skin