BACKGROUND: In the case of extensive lesions, the use of autologous grafts is limited by the extent of the donor area and the clinical condition of patients. Allografts collected from cadavers or volunteers are usually rejected after 1 to 2 weeks, thus serving only as temporary cover for these lesions. Treating major cutaneous lesions with reconstructed autologous skin is an attractive alternative, because it is possible to obtain cultures of cells that multiply rapidly and can be cryopreserved from a small fragment of the patient's skin, thereby facilitating its indefinite use in new treatments. This study evaluated the histological behavior of cultured human keratinocytes and fibroblasts on a collagen matrix derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa. METHODS: Cells from human epidermis and dermis were grown separately and seeded on porcine collagen matrix, which was maintained in a controlled environment for 21 days before being subjected to histological analysis. RESULTS: Fibroblasts invaded and colonized the collagen matrix, whereas keratinocytes were organized in laminated and stratified layers on the surface on which they were seeded. CONCLUSIONS: The use of porcine collagen matrix as a support for human skin cells is feasible, and the organization of these cells resembles the architecture of human skin.
Tissue engineering; Cell culture techniques; Cells, cultured. Burns
