Clonal growth of human keratinocytes with small amounts of dialyzed serum

A survey of commercially available media revealed that medium F-12 was superior to medium 199 for clonal growth of human epidermal keratinocytes (HK) when supplemented with 10 micrograms/ml hydrocortisone (HC) plus dialyzed fetal bovine serum protein (FBSP), rather than the whole serum used in previous studies. Qualitative and quantitative adjustment of the medium composition for optimal clonal growth with minimal amounts of FBSP generated a new medium, MCDB 151, which supports clonal growth of HK with 10 micrograms/ml HC and as little as 1 mg/ml FBSP (equivalent in protein concentration to 2.0% whole serum). MCDB 151 differs significantly from NCDB 105, previously developed in this laboratory for normal human fibroblasts, and each medium selectively favors growth of its own type of cell in primary cultures of disaggregated human neonatal foreskin cells. Differences in the amounts of calcium and adenine in the two media appear to be among the most influential factors mediating the selective growth. Optimal growth of HK occurs at a very low level of Ca2+ that causes the colonies to remain as monolayers rather than stratifying as they do in the presence of higher levels of calcium. However, keratin synthesis, which was examined through use of highly specific fluorescent antibodies, is not affected by the Ca2+ concentration. Agents that increase intracellular cyclic AMP levels appear to have no effect on HK growth in MCDF 151 with 10 micrograms/ml HC and 1.0 mg/ml FBSP.