In vitro culture of human epithelial cells on a modified xenogenic collagen support

Human epithelial cells (HeLa, HaCaT, NHK) were cultured in vitro on chemically modified collagen membranes. Adhesion to the support was measured by estimation of the percentage of adhering 51Cr-labeled cells. Proliferation was estimated with the XTT test. Morphological observations of cells growing on HCl-treated collagen were performed using histological and electron microscopic techniques. HCl and trypsin-modified xenogenic collagen was found to be a good support for human cells in vitro. EDTA-incubated collagen enhanced neither adhesion nor proliferation. The best adhesion and proliferation were found on HCl-treated collagen, depending, however, on the kind of cells.