Wound Coverage by Cultured Skin Cells

At the conclusion of a three year study on ways to improve wound healing by cultured epidermal grafts, we have found that We were able to grow epidermal cells on collapsed collagen sponges. As a result, we can create a skin transplant with a quarter of the donors skin previously required. The new transplant is also of a better quality, and easier to handle in clinical settings. We identified a factor in epidermal cells shown to stimulate wound healing and to prevent scar formation. We can successfully transplant epidermal cells autologously and allogeneically. We have have identified three skin specific antigens, and have been able to temporarily eliminate two of three in pig epidermal cells during cultivation in vitro. We discovered that Class II antigens, which contribute to skin graft rejection, are auto-induced by gamma interferon, rather than by lymphocytes, as previously thought. Keywords Epidermal cells Collagen matrix Autologous transplantation Allogeneic transplantation Skin specific antigens Ia antigens RA II Skin grafting.