Re-epithelialization and immune cell behaviour in an ex vivo human skin model

Abstract A large body of literature is available on wound healing in humans. Nonetheless, a standardized ex vivo wound model without disruption of the dermal compartment has not been put forward with compelling justification. Here, we present a novel wound model based on application of negative pressure and its effects for epidermal regeneration and immune cell behaviour. Importantly, the basement membrane remained intact after blister roof removal and keratinocytes were absent in the wounded area. Upon six days of culture, the wound was covered with one to three-cell thick K14 + Ki67 + keratinocyte layers, indicating that proliferation and migration were involved in wound closure. After eight to twelve days,…