title: Esterase Activity and Intracellular Localization in Reconstructed Human Epidermal Cultured Skin Models.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reconstructed human epidermal culture skin models have been developed for cosmetic and pharmaceutical research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the total and carboxyl esterase activities (i.e., Km and Vmax , respectively) and localization in two reconstructed human epidermal culture skin models (LabCyte EPI-MODEL [Japan Tissue Engineering] and EpiDerm [MatTek/Kurabo]). The usefulness of the reconstruction cultured epidermis was also verified by comparison with human and rat epidermis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Homogenized epidermal samples were fractioned by centrifugation. p-nitrophenyl acetate and 4-methylumbelliferyl acetate were used as substrates of total esterase and carboxyl esterase, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total and carboxyl esterase activities were present in the reconstructed human epidermal culture skin models and were localized in the cytosol. Moreover, the activities and localization were the same as those in human and rat epidermis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LabCyte EPI-MODEL and EpiDerm are potentially useful for esterase activity prediction in human epidermis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Dermatological Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, Sakado, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokudome
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Dermatological Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, Sakado, Japan.
authors.forename: Mishina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katayanagi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Dermatological Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, Sakado, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
keywords: Carboxyl esterase; Localization; Reconstructed human epidermal culture skin model; Skin esterase; Total esterase