[Air-liquid interface cultivation of human keratinocytes]

For simulation of in vivo conditions, air-liquid interface cultivation of human keratinocytes is reported. After human keratinocytes were grown on a collagen matrix inside plastic rings at the air-liquid interface for 14 days, the culture was cryostat sectioned and labeled with monoclonal antibody against human filaggrin using the APAAP technique. The culture displayed a stratified, multilayered epithelium with a basal cell layer and 9-11 supra-basal layers. Filaggrin was found mainly in the upper cell layers. As the microarchitecture of the culture was essentially similar to in vivo conditions, air-liquid interface cultivation seems to be an appropriate method for the study of epidermal cell growth and differentiation in vitro.