Glycosaminoglycan synthesis by cultured human epidermal cells

Human epidermal cells obtained from foreskin were grown without any feeder layers and glycosaminoglycan synthesis of the epidermal cells were investigated using 3H-glucosamine as a tracer. At logarithmic and confluent phase of primary culture and confluent phase of 2nd passage culture glycosaminoglycans were found to be actively synthesized. The major component of synthesized glycosaminoglycans was hyaluronic acid. Our study indicates that cultured human epidermal cells constantly produced hyaluronic acid and suggests that glycosaminoglycans in the intercellular region of the epidermis seem to be synthesized by epidermal cells.