Labeling and tracking of immune cells in ex vivo human skin

The Development of Human Ex Vivo Models of Inflammatory Skin Conditions

Traditional research in inflammatory dermatoses has relied on animal models and reconstructed human epidermis to study these conditions. However, these models are limited in replicating the complexity of real human skin and reproducing the intricate pathological changes in skin barrier components and lipid profiles. To address this gap, we developed experimental models that mimic various human inflammatory skin phenotypes. Human ex vivo skins were stimulated with various triggers, creating models for inflammation-induced angiogenesis, irritation response, and chronic T-cell activation. We assessed the alterations in skin morphology, cellular infiltrates, cytokine production, and epidermal lipidomic profiles. In the pro-angiogenesis model, we observed increased mast cell degranulation and elevated levels of angiogenic growth factors. Both the irritant and chronic inflammation models exhibited severe epidermal disruption, along with macrophage infiltration, leukocyte exocytosis, and heightened cytokine levels. Lipidomic analysis revealed minor changes in the pro-angiogenesis model, whereas the chronic inflammation and irritant models exhibited significant decreases in barrier essential ceramide subclasses and a shift toward shorter acyl chain lengths ( Collapse

Key Words

• ex vivo model
• skin barrier
• skin inflammation

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MESH Headings

• Animals
• Humans
• Irritants/pharmacology
• Skin/metabolism
• Epidermis/metabolism
• Skin Diseases/metabolism
• Inflammation/metabolism
• Cytokines/metabolism

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Grants Collapse

Affiliation(s)

Eddy Hsi Chun Wang L’Oreal Research and Innovation, Clark, NJ 07066, USA
Rebecca Barresi-Thornton L’Oreal Research and Innovation, Clark, NJ 07066, USA
Li-Chi Chen Harvard Medical School, Boston & Beth Israel Lahey Health, Burlington, MA 01805, USA
Maryanne Makredes Senna Harvard Medical School, Boston & Beth Israel Lahey Health, Burlington, MA 01805, USA
I-Chien Liao L’Oreal Research and Innovation, Clark, NJ 07066, USA
Ying Chen L’Oreal Research and Innovation, Clark, NJ 07066, USA
Qian Zheng L’Oreal Research and Innovation, Clark, NJ 07066, USA
Charbel Bouez L’Oreal Research and Innovation, Clark, NJ 07066, USA

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Imaging approaches for monitoring three-dimensional cell and tissue culture systems

The past decade has seen an increasing demand for more complex, reproducible and physiologically relevant tissue cultures that can mimic the structural and biological features of living tissues. Monitoring the viability, development and responses of such tissues in real-time are challenging due to the complexities of cell culture physical characteristics and the environments in which these cultures need to be maintained in. Significant developments in optics, such as optical manipulation, improved detection and data analysis, have made optical imaging a preferred choice for many three-dimensional (3D) cell culture monitoring applications. The aim of this review is to discuss the challenges associated with imaging and monitoring 3D tissues and cell culture, and highlight topical label-free imaging tools that enable bioengineers and biophysicists to non-invasively characterise engineered living tissues.