Culture techniques for human keratinocytes

Abstract

The two main approaches developed for in vitro culture of human keratinocytes are reviewed and discussed. The older technique is based on the use of a serum-containing medium and of a feeder-layer of lethally irradiated mouse fibroblasts; the second relies upon serum-free media, in the absence of a feeder-layer. While the former technique is most widely used for the preparation of epithelial sheets for grafting, the latter is best suited for studies on the biological properties of keratinocytes.