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Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale
Published on: May 28, 2021
Engineering human skin model innervated with itch sensory neuron-like cells differentiated from induced pluripotent
Zongyou Guo1, Chi-Kun Tong1, Joanna Jacków1
1Department of Dermatology Columbia University New York New York USA.
Abstract:
Atopic dermatitis (AD), driven by interleukins (IL-4/IL-13), is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by intensive pruritus. However, it is unclear how immune signaling and sensory response pathways cross talk with each other. We differentiated itch sensory neuron-like cells (ISNLCs) from iPSC lines. These ISNLCs displayed neural markers and action potentials and responded specifically to itch-specific stimuli. These ISNLCs expressed receptors specific for IL-4/IL-13 and were activated directly by the two cytokines. We successfully innervated these ISNLCs into full thickness human skin constructs. These innervated skin grafts can be used in clinical applications such as wound healing. Moreover, the availability of such innervated skin models will be valuable to develop drugs to treat skin diseases such as AD.
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