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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
An In Vitro Skin Irritation Test (SIT) using the EpiDerm Reconstructed Human Epidermal (RHE) Model
Published on: July 13, 2009
[Experimental study on constructing a tissue engineered epidermis for replacement of skin irritation in vitro]
Zhongliang Li1, Jinjin Wu, Guihong Yang
1Information & Engineering School of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou Zhejiang, 325035, PR China.
Objective:
To investigate the method of constructing a tissue engineered epidermis with human epidermal cells and polycarbonate membrane, and to establish a tissue engineered epidermis with barrier function which is intended to be the replacing model in vitro of skin irritation test.
Methods:
The tissue engineered epidermis was constructed by using polycarbonate membrane as scaffold and stratified differentiated epidermis derived from human keratinocytes. The tissue engineered epidermis was cultured on an inert polycarbonate filter at the air-liquid interface. After 13 days of culture, the composition and structure of tissue engineered epidermis were observed by HE staining, immunofluorescence staining of keratin 10 (K10) & K13, K14, laminin, involucrin, and filaggrin, and transmission electronic microscope. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of a substance (IC50) of SDS was determined in the penetration test of tissue engineered epidermis cultured in the absence (control group) or the presence (experimental group) of lipid supplement for 18 hours.
Results:
The constructed epidermis was similar to normal epidermis, which was consisted of a proliferating basal layer, differentiated spinous layer, granular layer, and stratum corneum. The IC50 values of tissue engineered epidermis cultured in the control group and experimental group were 0.072% (2.36 mmol/L) and 0.183% (6.00 mmol/L), respectively.
Conclusion:
The tissue engineered epidermis constructed on polycarbonate membrane has normal composition and structure and barrier function corresponding to the normal epidermis.
