Avian Collagen Is Useful for the Construction of Skin Equivalents

As a result of restrictions on animal experimentation, improved skin equivalents (SEs) are needed as alternative test models. This work investigated the effects of avian collagen on the construction of SEs, and to the best of our knowledge is the first study to do so. Hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining were used to analyze the SEs. In models containing avian collagen as a dermal equivalent (DE) ingredient, fibroblast proliferation increased by about 60% relative to the control model. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p63 increased in the avian collagen models, while the expression of involucrin, integrin α6, and integrin β1 remained unchanged. Next, DEs were cryopreserved to allow the easier creation of SEs. Keratinocytes were seeded on thawed DEs, and SEs were constructed. Avian collagen increased the viability of DEs relative to the control. Furthermore, avian collagen increased the expression of PCNA and p63 in keratinocytes on thawed DEs. The results indicate that DEs containing avian collagen can be thawed as needed after cryopreservation. Avian collagen can improve the construction of SEs and be used as part of a dermal kit for SE construction.