Keratin Promotes Differentiation of Keratinocytes Seeded on Collagen/Keratin Hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: Keratinocytes undergo a complex process of differentiation to form the stratified stratum corneum layer of the skin. In most biomimetic skin models, a 3D hydrogel fabricated out of collagen type I is used to mimic human skin. However, native skin also contains keratin, which makes up 90% of the epidermis and is produced by the keratinocytes present. We hypothesized that the addition of keratin (KTN) in our collagen hydrogel may aid in the process of keratinocyte differentiation compared to a pure collagen hydrogel. Keratinocytes were seeded on top of a 100% collagen or 50/50 C/KTN hydrogel cultured in either calcium-free (Ca-free) or calcium+ (Ca+) media. Our study demonstrates that the addition of keratin and calcium in the media increased lysosomal activity by measuring the glucocerebros

SUBMITTER: Zuniga K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9598618 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature