METHOD FOR CULTURING AND EXPANSION OF MAMMALIAN UNDIFFERENTIATED EPIDERMAL KERATINOCYTES EXHIBITING STEM CELL CHARACTERISTICS

摘要

The invention disclosed relates to the culturing of mammalian e.g. human cells, and in particular to the culturing and expansion of substantially undifferentiated human epidermal keratinocytes exhibiting stem cell-like characteristics, and in co-culture with human dermal fibroblasts utilizing a low calcium serum free and animal by-product free medium derived from a commercially available medium. The medium consists of a commercially available basal medium, and a single fibroblast growth factor (FGF) or a mimic thereof e.g. FGF7/KGF. A method is also disclosed for treating mammalian e.g. human skin wound injuries, by applying to the wound an effective amount of substantially pure mammalian e.g. human epidermal stem cell-like keratinocytes in a substantially undifferentiated state, and optionally additionally, dermal fibroblasts e.g. human dermal fibroblasts. Both cell types can be grown separately or in a co-culture for application purposes.