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Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale
Published on: May 28, 2021
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Advancing human skin models by integrating skin microbes for next-generation research
Arnout Mieremet1, Marion Rietveld2, Bowien van Leijden3
1Department of Microbiology and Systems Biology, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Sylviusweg 71, Leiden, 2333 BE, The Netherlands. arnout.mieremet@tno.nl.
Scientific Reports
|March 12, 2026
Summary
This study developed a 3D human skin model to study skin microbes. Staphylococcus aureus significantly altered skin structure and inflammation, highlighting its pathogenic potential.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- The skin barrier relies on physical, chemical, immune, and microbial elements.
- Host-microbe interactions in skin are not fully understood due to limited preclinical models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create 3D human skin equivalents (HSEs) co-cultured with skin microbes.
- To investigate host responses to common skin bacteria in a controlled in vitro setting.
Main Methods:
- Developed 3D human skin equivalents (HSEs).
- Inoculated HSEs with Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Cutibacterium acnes.
- Analyzed microbial expansion, epidermal morphogenesis, and inflammatory signaling over 48 hours.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcus aureus showed significant outgrowth and caused the largest structural impact on the epidermis.
- Cutibacterium acnes promoted keratinocyte proliferation.
- Staphylococcus aureus induced a pro-inflammatory response, increasing IL-8 and CXCL1 secretion.
Conclusions:
- A reproducible experimental framework for studying host-microbe interactions in HSEs was established.
- Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated significant pathogenic potential by altering skin architecture and inflammatory pathways.
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