Allogeneic cultured epidermal grafts heal chronic ulcers although they do not remain as proved by DNA analysis

To investigate whether allogeneic cultured keratinocytes are rejected or not, and to find out how beneficial their effect on wound healing could be, patients with chronic ulcers were grafted with allogeneic cultured human keratinocytes. In order to examine the epidermal origin of the healed wound, DNA analysis was performed and compared to donor and recipient blood-cell DNA. Healing was observed in 84% of the grafted ulcers by granulation tissue stimulation and would edge effect. In little time 60% of the grafted chronic ulcers healed completely. Although no rejection was observed, DNA analysis revealed that the grafted allogeneic keratinocytes were finally replaced by the patient's own epidermis. This study confirmed that cultured allogeneic keratinocytes that have been grafted on ulcers, play an important role in the wound healing process.