Current in vitro models of human skin lack appendages, which are an integral component of native skin and are necessary structures in reconstructed skin models for applications such as testing of pharmacological agents, basic discovery, and tissue engineering. We describe our development of three complementary in vitro human eccrine gland culture models: (1) nondissociative model of whole eccrine glands attached to epidermis, (2) nondissociative model of whole eccrine glands detached from epidermis, and (3) dissociative model of eccrine gland cells. In each model, eccrine glands were encapsulated and cultured in modifiable hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels. Glands in these cultures stained positive for eccrine gland ductal and secretory coil-specific markers, demonstrating the ability of these models to continue to express appropriate phenotypic markers. The nondissociative models of eccrine gland culture maintain full, intact eccrine gland structures ideal for basic discovery and toxicology testing, while the dissociative model requires cell expansion to attain large cell numbers needed for tissue engineering applications.
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