title: Melanin Transfer in Human 3D Skin Equivalents Generated Exclusively from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.
abstract: The current utility of 3D skin equivalents is limited by the fact that existing models fail to recapitulate the cellular complexity of human skin. They often contain few cell types and no appendages, in part because many cells found in the skin are difficult to isolate from intact tissue and cannot be expanded in culture. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) present an avenue by which we can overcome this issue due to their ability to be differentiated into multiple cell types in the body and their unlimited growth potential. We previously reported generation of the first human 3D skin equivalents from iPSC-derived fibroblasts and iPSC-derived keratinocytes, demonstrating that iPSCs can provide a foundation for modeling a complex human organ such as skin. Here, we have increased the complexity of this model by including additional iPSC-derived melanocytes. Epidermal melanocytes, which are largely responsible for skin pigmentation, represent the second most numerous cell type found in normal human epidermis and as such represent a logical next addition. We report efficient melanin production from iPSC-derived melanocytes and transfer within an entirely iPSC-derived epidermal-melanin unit and generation of the first functional human 3D skin equivalents made from iPSC-derived fibroblasts, keratinocytes and melanocytes.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America.
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Gledhill
authors: Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America.
authors: Zongyou
authors: Z
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America.
authors: Noriko
authors: N
authors: Umegaki-Arao
authors: Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America.
authors: Claire A
authors: CA
authors: Higgins
authors: Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America.
authors: Munenari
authors: M
authors: Itoh
authors: Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America; Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America.
authors: Angela M
authors: AM
authors: Christiano
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008543:Melanins; D012333:RNA, Messenger