title: Epidermal micrografts produced via an automated and minimally invasive tool form at the dermal/epidermal junction and contain proliferative cells that secrete wound healing growth factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this scientific study was to assess epidermal micrografts for formation at the dermal-epidermal (DE) junction, cellular outgrowth, and growth factor secretion. Epidermal harvesting is an autologous option that removes only the superficial epidermal layer of the skin, considerably limiting donor site damage and scarring. Use of epidermal grafting in wound healing has been limited because of tedious, time-consuming, and inconsistent methodologies. Recently, a simplified, automated epidermal harvesting tool (CelluTome Epidermal Harvesting System; Kinetic Concepts Inc, San Antonio, Texas) that applies heat and suction concurrently to produce epidermal micrografts has become commercially available. The new technique of epidermal harvesting was shown to create viable micrografts with minimal patient discomfort and no donor-site scarring.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a prospective institutional review board-approved healthy human study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at the multispecialty research facility, Clinical Trials of Texas, Inc, in San Antonio, Texas.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 15 healthy human volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Epidermal micrografts formed at the DE junction, and migratory basal layer keratinocytes and melanocytes were proliferative in culture. Basement membrane-specific collagen type IV was also found to be present in the grafts, suggesting that the combination of heat and vacuum might cause partial delamination of the basement membrane. Viable basal cells actively secreted key growth factors important for modulating wound healing responses, including vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and transforming growth factor α.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Harvested epidermal micrografts retained their original keratinocyte structure, which is critical for potential re-epithelialization and repigmentation of a wound environment.
authors.affiliation: Sandra N. Osborne, PhD, is Senior Scientist; Marisa A. Schmidt, BS, and Kathleen Derrick, MS, are both Scientist III; and John R. Harper, PhD, is Senior Vice President, Clinical Affairs and Clinical Sciences; all at Kinetic Concepts Inc (KCI), an Acelity Company, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Sandra N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: Marisa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Derrick
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins