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Modelling the Complexity of Human Skin In Vitro.
Elisabeth Hofmann1,2,3, Anna Schwarz1,2,3, Julia Fink1,2,3
1COREMED-Centre of Regenerative and Precision Medicine, JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Biomedicines
|March 29, 2023
Summary
Animal testing for skin research faces challenges due to species differences. Human reconstructed skin models offer a valuable alternative for studying skin structure, function, and diseases more accurately.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology and tissue engineering.
Background:
- The skin's barrier function is crucial for protection and regulating transport.
- Animal models are used for skin research but have limitations in translatability to humans.
- In vitro human skin models provide a promising alternative to animal testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review human skin structures.
- To describe advancements in in vitro skin model technologies.
- To highlight the development of complex, reconstructed human skin models.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on human skin anatomy and physiology.
- Analysis of technological progress in creating in vitro skin models.
- Description of reconstructed epidermis and full skin equivalents.
Main Results:
- Significant progress has been made in developing increasingly complex in vitro skin models.
- These models aim to replicate the intricate structure of human skin.
- In vitro models enhance the study of skin structure, function, and disease.
Conclusions:
- In vitro human skin models are essential for advancing dermatological research.
- Technological innovations are enabling more sophisticated and accurate skin reconstructions.
- These models improve the understanding of skin biology and disease, overcoming animal model limitations.
