Cultured Mucosal Cell Sheet with a Double Layer of Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts on a Collagen Membrane

The aim of this study was to develop a novel cultured mucosal membrane that was facile to prepare and easy to handle, and that could be applied to mucosal defects in the oral cavity. Human oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts were prepared from the oral mucosa. We made the following two types of cultured mucosal cell sheets: a monolayer sheet of keratinocytes cultured on a collagen membrane (K-S) and a double-layered sheet of keratinocytes and fibroblasts on a collagen membrane (KF-S). A collagen membrane was used as a control. Each type of sheet was transplanted onto dorsal skin defects of nude mice. The wound area was measured for the assessment of wound contraction and a specimen was harvested for histologic evaluation 1 week and 4 weeks after grafting. Wound contraction was minimal with KF-S grafts. Although histologic examination showed normal differentiation of the epithelium in all graft types, the involucrin expression pattern of KFS was most similar to that of normal epithelium. These results indicate that a double-layered sheet of keratinocytes and fibroblasts cultured on a collagen membrane may facilitate epithelial healing and prevent wound contraction.