Name: generation and culturing of primary human keratinocytes from adult skin
Uploaded: 2017-12-22T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin at JoVE.com

The author wishes to thank Annette Blak Rasmussen and Kristine Moeller for their technical support

The collection of skin samples from healthy adult volunteers undergoing plastic surgery requires approval from the ethical committee in the host institutions. This protocol was approved by the Regional Ethical Committee of Region Midtjylland, Denmark (M-20110027). The method described here is derived from similar studies by Maciaq et al.10 and Liu and Karasek11.
1. Isolation of Keratinocytes from Human Skin
<ol>
	<li>Start by making th...

<ol>
	<li>Barker, J. N., Mitra, R. S., Griffiths, C. E., Dixit, V. M., Nickoloff, B. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Keratinocytes+as+initiators+of+inflammation.">Keratinocytes as initiators of inflammation.</a> Lancet. 337 (8735), 211-214 (1991).</li><li>Nickoloff, B. J., Turka, L. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Keratinocytes:+key+immunocytes+of+the+integument.">Keratinocytes: key immunocytes of the integument.</a> Am J Pathol. 143 (2), 325-331 (1993).</li><li>Fuchs, E., Raghavan, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Getting+under+the+skin+of+epidermal+morphogenesis.">Getting under the skin of epidermal morphogenesis.</a> Nat Rev Genet. 3 (3), 199-209 (2002).</li><li>Bos, J. D., Kapsenberg, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+skin+immune+system+Its+cellular+constituents+and+their+interactions.">The skin immune system Its cellular constituents and their interactions.</a> Immunol Today. 7 (7-8), 235-240 (1986).</li><li>Nestle, F. O., Di Meglio, P., Qin, J. Z., Nickoloff, B. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Skin+immune+sentinels+in+health+and+disease.">Skin immune sentinels in health and disease.</a> Nat Rev Immunol. 9 (10), 679-691 (2009).</li><li>Albanesi, C., Scarponi, C., Giustizieri, M. L., Girolomoni, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Keratinocytes+in+inflammatory+skin+diseases.">Keratinocytes in inflammatory skin diseases.</a> Curr Drug Targets Inflamm Allergy. 4 (3), 329-334 (2005).</li><li>Gilliet, M., Lande, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antimicrobial+peptides+and+self-DNA+in+autoimmune+skin+inflammation.">Antimicrobial peptides and self-DNA in autoimmune skin inflammation.</a> Curr Opin Immunol. 20 (4), 401-407 (2008).</li><li>Rohani, M. G., Pilcher, B. K., Chen, P., Parks, W. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cdc42+inhibits+ERK-mediated+collagenase-1+(MMP-1)+expression+in+collagen-activated+human+keratinocytes.">Cdc42 inhibits ERK-mediated collagenase-1 (MMP-1) expression in collagen-activated human keratinocytes.</a> J Invest Dermatol. 134 (5), 1230-1237 (2014).</li><li>Meephansan, J., Tsuda, H., Komine, M., Tominaga, S., Ohtsuki, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+IL-33+expression+by+IFN-gamma+and+tumor+necrosis+factor-alpha+in+normal+human+epidermal+keratinocytes.">Regulation of IL-33 expression by IFN-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in normal human epidermal keratinocytes.</a> J Invest Dermatol. 132 (11), 2593-2600 (2012).</li><li>Maciag, T., Nemore, R. E., Weinstein, R., Gilchrest, B. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+endocrine+approach+to+the+control+of+epidermal+growth:+serum-free+cultivation+of+human+keratinocytes.">An endocrine approach to the control of epidermal growth: serum-free cultivation of human keratinocytes.</a> Science. 211 (4489), 1452-1454 (1981).</li><li>Liu, S. C., Karasek, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+and+growth+of+adult+human+epidermal+keratinocytes+in+cell+culture.">Isolation and growth of adult human epidermal keratinocytes in cell culture.</a> J Invest Dermatol. 71 (2), 157-162 (1978).</li><li>Naaldijk, Y., Friedrich-Stockigt, A., Sethe, S., Stolzing, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+different+cooling+rates+for+fibroblast+and+keratinocyte+cryopreservation.">Comparison of different cooling rates for fibroblast and keratinocyte cryopreservation.</a> J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 10 (10), E354-E364 (2016).</li><li>Otkjaer, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=IL-20+gene+expression+is+induced+by+IL-1beta+through+mitogen-activated+protein+kinase+and+NF-kappaB-dependent+mechanisms.">IL-20 gene expression is induced by IL-1beta through mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-kappaB-dependent mechanisms.</a> J Invest Dermatol. 127 (6), 1326-1336 (2007).</li><li>Watt, F. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Involucrin+and+other+markers+of+keratinocyte+terminal+differentiation.">Involucrin and other markers of keratinocyte terminal differentiation.</a> J Invest Dermatol. 81 (1 Suppl), 100s-103s (1983).</li><li>Boyce, S. T., Ham, R. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium-regulated+differentiation+of+normal+human+epidermal+keratinocytes+in+chemically+defined+clonal+culture+and+serum-free+serial+culture.">Calcium-regulated differentiation of normal human epidermal keratinocytes in chemically defined clonal culture and serum-free serial culture.</a> J Invest Dermatol. 81 (1 Suppl), 33s-40s (1983).</li><li>Hennings, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium+regulation+of+growth+and+differentiation+of+mouse+epidermal+cells+in+culture.">Calcium regulation of growth and differentiation of mouse epidermal cells in culture.</a> Cell. 19 (1), 245-254 (1980).</li><li>Carlson, M. W., Alt-Holland, A., Egles, C., Garlick, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Three-dimensional+tissue+models+of+normal+and+diseased+skin.">Three-dimensional tissue models of normal and diseased skin.</a> Curr Protoc Cell Biol. , (2008).</li><li>Kamsteeg, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Type+2+helper+T-cell+cytokines+induce+morphologic+and+molecular+characteristics+of+atopic+dermatitis+in+human+skin+equivalent.">Type 2 helper T-cell cytokines induce morphologic and molecular characteristics of atopic dermatitis in human skin equivalent.</a> Am J Pathol. 178 (5), 2091-2099 (2011).</li><li>van den Bogaard, E. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Crosstalk+between+keratinocytes+and+T+cells+in+a+3D+microenvironment:+a+model+to+study+inflammatory+skin+diseases.">Crosstalk between keratinocytes and T cells in a 3D microenvironment: a model to study inflammatory skin diseases.</a> J Invest Dermatol. 134 (3), 719-727 (2014).</li><li>Raaby, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Langerhans+cell+markers+CD1a+and+CD207+are+the+most+rapidly+responding+genes+in+lesional+psoriatic+skin+following+adalimumab+treatment.">Langerhans cell markers CD1a and CD207 are the most rapidly responding genes in lesional psoriatic skin following adalimumab treatment.</a> Exp Dermatol. , (2017).</li></ol>

Here, we describe how to easily isolate primary human keratinocytes from adult skin, and how to culture them in vitro. This model can have a broad application for investigation of epidermal cell biology, and can be useful for researchers interested in studying cutaneous diseases.
Some of the advantages of the protocol described here is that in contrast to keratinocytes isolated from neonatal foreskin obtained from newborn males undergoing circumcision, primary human keratinocytes from...

The skin is the biggest organ of the human body and serves as a protective barrier against the external environment. The skin is composed of two main layers: the dermis and the epidermis, where the epidermis constitutes the outermost layer of the skin. The most abundant cell type in the epidermis is the keratinocytes comprising more than 95% of the cell mass1,2. The keratinocytes are maintained at various stages of differentiation in the epidermis and are organized into basal, spinous, granular, and cornified layers that correspond to specific stages of differentiation3. The primary function of keratinocytes is to provide the structural integrity of the epidermis, thereby producing an intact barrier to the outside world.
The keratinocytes also represent the first line of defense against pathogens in the skin, and therefore play an important role in the innate immune response4,5. Exposure of the keratinocytes to external stimuli leads to activation of intracellular signaling pathways and subsequently, production of a number of various inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines, and antimicrobial peptides. These keratinocyte-derived proteins participate in the inflammatory response by recruiting and activating immune cells such as dendritic cells, neutrophils, and specific T cells6,7. Thus, because keratinocytes play a crucial part in numerous biological processes, the rationale behind the technique presented here was to generate an in vitro model to study skin biology. Primary keratinocyte cultures obtained from neonatal foreskin are often used to study skin biology8,9. However, with the technique described here, keratinocytes from both genders are obtained resulting in a higher biological diversity of the cells.
Here, we present a detailed protocol for the isolation and generation of primary human keratinocytes from adult skin, including maintenance and freezing of the keratinocytes. The overall goal of this method is to generate primary human keratinocytes that can be used as a model to study cutaneous biology in vitro.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="621">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">KSFM</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">17005-034</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Cell culture medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">KSFM supplements</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">37000-015</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Supplements for KSFM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">DPBS</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14190-144</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">DPBS without Calcium and Magnesium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">DMSO</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">D8418</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Dimethyl sulfoxid</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">Gentamycin</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15710-049</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Cell culture medium additive</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">Sterilization filter</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Sartorius</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">16534</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Syringe filter with a pore size of 0.2 &#181;m</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Trypsin</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T7409</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used to trypsinize cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Glucose</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G7528</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">-</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">RPMI-1640</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">61870-010</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">-</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">FBS</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">16000044</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used to inactivate trypsin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">Forceps</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">-</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">-</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Forceps from any company can be used</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">Scissors</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">-</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">-</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Scissors from any company can be used</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">Scalpel</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Swann Morton</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">0501</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Scalpels from any company can be used</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">70% ethanol</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">-</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">-</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">-</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">Gauze pads</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">NOBAMED</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">875420</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Gauze pads from any provider can be used</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">Foot planer</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Credo Solingen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1510</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Foot planer from any provider can be used</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">Petri dishes</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">TPP</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">93100</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Petri dishes from any provider can be used</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">Metal filter</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">-</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">-</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">In-house 1 mm hole size metal filter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;width:216px;">75 cm2 culture flasks</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">NUNC</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">156499</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">-</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;width:216px;">150 cm2 culture flasks</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">TTP</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">90151</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">-</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">0.05% Trypsin-EDTA solution</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">25300-062</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used to trypsinize cells when passaging</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

generation and culturing of primary human keratinocytes from adult skin

The main function of keratinocytes is to provide the structural integrity of the epidermis, thereby maintaining a mechanical barrier to the outside world. In addition, keratinocytes play an essential role in the initiation, maintenance, and regulation of epidermal immune responses by being part of the innate immune system responding to antigenic stimuli in a fast, nonspecific manner. Here, we describe a protocol for isolation of primary human keratinocytes from adult skin, and demonstrate that these cells respond to calcium-induced terminal differentiation, as measured by an increased expression of the differentiation marker involucrin. In addition, we show that the isolated keratinocytes are responsive to IL-1&#946;-induced activation of intracellular signaling pathways as measured by the activation of the p38 MAPK pathway. Taken together, we describe a method for isolation and culturing of primary human keratinocytes from adult skin. Because the keratinocytes are the predominant cell type in the epidermis, this method is useful to study molecular mechanisms in cutaneous biology in vitro.

Calcium-induced Terminal Differentiation 
Human keratinocytes undergo terminal differentiation upon treatment with calcium14,15,16. Primary human keratinocytes were isolated and cultured as described in the above protocol. When approximately 50 - 60% confluent, the cells were stimulated with calcium (1.2 mM) or vehicle and pictures of the cells were taken on day 0, 1, and 2. Figure 1</s...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin at JoVE.com

Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin

The human skin acts as a first line of defense against the external environment. We present a method for isolating primary human keratinocytes from adult skin. These isolated keratinocytes are useful in numerous experimental setups, and are a highly suitable model for studying molecular mechanisms in cutaneous biology in vitro.

The main function of keratinocytes is to provide the structural integrity of the epidermis, thereby maintaining a mechanical barrier to the outside world. ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to generate primary human keratinocytes that can be used as a model to study cutaneous biology in vitro. This method can help answer key questions in the epidermal cell biology field, such as how human keratinocyte differentiation is regulated or as a model for studying inflammatory skin diseases. The main advantages of this technique are that primary human keratinocytes can be conventionally isolated from adult skin of both men and women and can include skin from people of any age older than 18.Demonstrating the procedure will be Annette Blak Rasmussen, a technician from my laboratory. To begin, prepare a 50 milliliter solution of 0.25%trypsin and 0.1%glucose in DPBS. Then, mix and filter sterilize the solution.Prepare 10 milliliters of RPMI 1640 plus 2%FBS, 50 milliliters of DPBS and keratinocyte serum free medium, or KSFM. Add KSFM supplements and 250 microliters of gentamicin to 500 milliliters of KSFM. Then, pre-warm the solutions to 37 degrees Celsius before use.Collect 10 centimeter by 15 centimeter skin samples from healthy adult volunteers undergoing plastic surgery. Keep the skin cool by transporting the skin samples in a styrofoam box containing a cooling element. If necessary, store the skin sample at four degrees Celsius overnight.Using sterilized scissors, scalpels and forceps, remove fat from underneath the skin section. Then, using needles, buckle out the skin section on a sterile cover on top of a plate. With a dry, sterilized gauze pad, clean the skin.Then, follow with 70%ethanol on a sterilized gauze pad. Next, using a foot planer, cut off the upper epidermal layer of the skin section and transfer it into a nine centimeter Petri dish. Then, immediately add 25 milliliters of the previously prepared DPBS trypsin glucose solution to the Petri dish.Incubate the samples at 37 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. Using a pipette, remove the DPBS trypsin glucose solution from the Petri dish and add 10 milliliters of RPMI 1640 plus 2%FBS to inactivate the trypsin. Now, with two forceps, release the epidermal cells into the medium by gently scraping and agitating both the epidermal and the dermal compartment of the skin sections.Filter the epidermal cell suspension through a metal filter and collect the filtrate into a 50 milliliter tube. Add the remaining skin sections to a 50 milliliter tube containing 10 milliliters of RPMI 1640 without FBS and vortex for 10 seconds. Filter this suspension through the metal filter into a 50 milliliter tube containing the epidermal cell suspension.Then, add DPBS to a total volume of 50 milliliters. Centrifuge the cell suspension at 450 times G and room temperature, for 10 minutes. Then, remove the supernatant and depending on the size of the cell pellet, re-suspend the epidermal cell pellet in approximately 10 milliliters of 37 degrees Celsius KSFM.Using the trypan blue staining method, count the cells under a microscope. Then, to each 75 square centimeter culture flask, transfer eight times 10 to the sixth cells, together with 12 milliliters of 37 degrees Celsius KSFM. Gently shake the culture flasks to ensure uniform distribution of the cells.Incubate the keratinocytes in a 37 degree Celsius incubator with 100%humidity and 5%CO2. Change the medium after two days and then three times weekly. When the cells reach 70-80%confluency, keep the appropriate amount of 0.05%trypsin EDTA solution to 37 degrees Celsius in an incubator.Remove the medium from the cells and add 4.5 milliliters per 75 square centimeter culture flask of pre-warmed 0.05%trypsin EDTA solution to the cells. After placing the culture flask in the 37 degree Celsius incubator for approximately five minutes, check under the microscope if the cells have started to loosen. When approximately 50%of the cells have loosened, gently hit the culture flask against the hand to loosen the remaining cells.Then, to inactivate the trypsin, add six milliliters of 37 degree Celsius RPMI 1640 plus 2%FBS to the 75 square centimeter culture flask and transfer the cell suspension to 50 milliliter tubes. Rinse the culture flasks with three milliliters of RPMI 1640 plus 2%FBS and add the medium to the 50 milliliter tubes. Then, centrifuge the cells for 10 minutes at 450 times G and room temperature.Use 10 milliliters of 37 degree Celsius KSFM to re-suspend the pelleted cells. Then, count and transfer three times 10 to the sixth cells to a 150 square centimeter culture flask, together with 20 milliliters of 37 degree Celsius KSFM. Gently shake the culture flask to ensure uniform distribution of the cells, before returning the cells to the incubator.When the culture is 80-90%confluent, after trypsinizing and transferring the cells to 50 milliliter tubes, as demonstrated earlier in this video, rinse the culture flasks with six milliliters of RPMI 1640 plus 2%FBS and add it to the 50 milliliter tubes. Centrifuge the tubes for 10 minutes at 450 times G and four degrees Celsius. Then, prepare ice cold cell freezing medium.Re-suspend the cell pellet in KSFM plus 10%DMSO. Then, after counting the cells, freeze them at a density of six times 10 to the sixth cells per milliliter, using standard, slow-freezing cryopreservation methods. Store the keratinocytes in liquid nitrogen until ready to use.As seen here, human keratinocytes were isolated and cultured, as demonstrated in this video and then stimulated with Calcium. These images show the morphological changes due to the addition of Calcium on days one and two, compared to controlled treated cells. In addition to morphological changes, the addition of Calcium also resulted in an increase in transcription of mRNA for the differentiation marker Involucrin, 5.5-fold after 24 hours and 3.5-fold after 48 hours.In this experiment, cultured keratinocytes were stimulated with IL-1 beta for various amounts of time. As seen by Western blotting, within five minutes, IL-1 beta stimulation led to a rapid activation phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase as IL-1 beta stimulation had no effect on p38 MAP kinase total protein levels. After one hour, IL-1 beta induced p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation returned to basal levels.After it's development, this technique paved the way for researchers in the field of human epidermal cell biology to explore the role of keratinocytes in innate immune responses, as well as in skin development. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to isolate and culture primary keratinocytes from adult human skin, which can be used as a model to study cutaneous biology in vitro.

generation-culturing-primary-human-keratinocytes-from-adult

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

Isolation and Quantitative Immunocytochemical Characterization of Primary Myogenic Cells and Fibroblasts from Human Skeletal Muscle

The repair and regeneration of skeletal muscle requires the action of satellite cells, which are the resident muscle stem cells. These can be isolated from human muscle biopsy samples using enzymatic digestion and their myogenic properties studied in culture. Quantitatively, the two main adherent cell types obtained from enzymatic digestion are: (i) the satellite cells (termed myogenic cells or muscle precursor cells), identified initially as CD56+ and later as CD56+/desmin+ cells and (ii) muscle-derived fibroblasts, identified as CD56&#8211; and TE-7+. Fibroblasts proliferate very efficiently in culture and in mixed cell populations these cells may overrun myogenic cells to dominate the culture. The isolation and purification of different cell types from human muscle is thus an important methodological consideration when trying to investigate the innate behavior of either cell type in culture. Here we describe a system of sorting based on the gentle enzymatic digestion of cells using collagenase and dispase followed by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) which gives both a high purity (&#62;95% myogenic cells) and good yield (~2.8 x 106 &#177; 8.87 x 105 cells/g tissue after 7 days in vitro) for experiments in culture. This approach is based on incubating the mixed muscle-derived cell population with magnetic microbeads beads conjugated to an antibody against CD56 and then passing cells though a magnetic field. CD56+ cells bound to microbeads are retained by the field whereas CD56&#8211; cells pass unimpeded through the column. Cell suspensions from any stage of the sorting process can be plated and cultured. Following a given intervention, cell morphology, and the expression and localization of proteins including nuclear transcription factors can be quantified using immunofluorescent labeling with specific antibodies and an image processing and analysis package.

The main adherent cell types derived from human muscle are myogenic cells and fibroblasts. Here, cell populations are enriched using magnetic-activated cell sorting based on the CD56 antigen. Subsequent immunolabelling with specific antibodies and use of image analysis techniques allows quantification of cytoplasmic and nuclear characteristics in individual cells.

The repair and regeneration of skeletal muscle requires the action of satellite cells, which are the resident muscle stem cells. These can be isolated ...

Generation of Integration-free Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Hair-derived Keratinocytes

Recent advances in reprogramming allow us to turn somatic cells into human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Disease modeling using patient-specific hiPSCs allows the study of the underlying mechanism for pathogenesis, also providing a platform for the development of in vitro drug screening and gene therapy to improve treatment options. The promising potential of hiPSCs for regenerative medicine is also evident from the increasing number of publications (>7000) on iPSCs in recent years. Various cell types from distinct lineages have been successfully used for hiPSC generation, including skin fibroblasts, hematopoietic cells and epidermal keratinocytes. While skin biopsies and blood collection are routinely performed in many labs as a source of somatic cells for the generation of hiPSCs, the collection and subsequent derivation of hair keratinocytes are less commonly used. Hair-derived keratinocytes represent a non-invasive approach to obtain cell samples from patients. Here we outline a simple non-invasive method for the derivation of keratinocytes from plucked hair. We also provide instructions for maintenance of keratinocytes and subsequent reprogramming to generate integration-free hiPSC using episomal vectors.

This manuscript provides a step-by-step procedure for the derivation and maintenance of human keratinocytes from plucked hair and subsequent generation of integration-free human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) by episomal vectors.

Recent advances in reprogramming allow us to turn somatic cells into human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Disease modeling using ...

Generation of Genetically Modified Organotypic Skin Cultures Using Devitalized Human Dermis

Organotypic cultures allow the reconstitution of a 3D environment critical for cell-cell contact and cell-matrix interactions which mimics the function and physiology of their in vivo tissue counterparts. This is exemplified by organotypic skin cultures which faithfully recapitulates the epidermal differentiation and stratification program. Primary human epidermal keratinocytes are genetically manipulable through retroviruses where genes can be easily overexpressed or knocked down. These genetically modified keratinocytes can then be used to regenerate human epidermis in organotypic skin cultures providing a powerful model to study genetic pathways impacting epidermal growth, differentiation, and disease progression. The protocols presented here describe methods to prepare devitalized human dermis as well as to genetically manipulate primary human keratinocytes in order to generate organotypic skin cultures. Regenerated human skin can be used in downstream applications such as gene expression profiling, immunostaining, and chromatin immunoprecipitations followed by high throughput sequencing. Thus, generation of these genetically modified organotypic skin cultures will allow the determination of genes that are critical for maintaining skin homeostasis.

The goal of this paper is to provide a comprehensive and detailed protocol on how to generate genetically modified human organotypic skin from epidermal keratinocytes and devitalized human dermis.

Organotypic cultures allow the reconstitution of a 3D environment critical for cell-cell contact and cell-matrix interactions which mimics the function ...

Isolating Hair Follicle Stem Cells and Epidermal Keratinocytes from Dorsal Mouse Skin

The hair follicle (HF) is an ideal system for studying the biology and regulation of adult stem cells (SCs). This dynamic mini organ is replenished by distinct pools of SCs, which are located in the permanent portion of the HF, a region known as the bulge. These multipotent bulge SCs were initially identified as slow cycling label retaining cells; however, their isolation has been made feasible after identification of specific cell markers, such as CD34 and keratin 15 (K15). Here, we describe a robust method for isolating bulge SCs and epidermal keratinocytes from mouse HFs utilizing fluorescence activated cell-sorting (FACS) technology. Isolated hair follicle SCs (HFSCs) can be utilized in various in vivo grafting models and are a valuable in vitro model for studying the mechanisms that govern multipotency, quiescence and activation.

An ideal model for studying adult stem cell biology is the mouse hair follicle. Here we present a protocol for isolating different populations of hair follicles stem cells and epidermal keratinocytes, employing enzymatic digestion of mouse dorsal skin followed by FACS analysis.

The hair follicle (HF) is an ideal system for studying the biology and regulation of adult stem cells (SCs). This dynamic mini organ is replenished by ...

Preparation and Culture of Myogenic Precursor Cells/Primary Myoblasts from Skeletal Muscle of Adult and Aged Humans

Skeletal muscle homeostasis depends on muscle growth (hypertrophy), atrophy and regeneration. During ageing and in several diseases, muscle wasting occurs. Loss of muscle mass and function is associated with muscle fiber type atrophy, fiber type switching, defective muscle regeneration associated with dysfunction of satellite cells, muscle stem cells, and other pathophysiological processes. These changes are associated with changes in intracellular as well as local and systemic niches. In addition to most commonly used rodent models of muscle ageing, there is a need to study muscle homeostasis and wasting using human models, which due to ethical implications, consist predominantly of in vitro cultures. Despite the wide use of human Myogenic Progenitor Cells (MPCs) and primary myoblasts in myogenesis, there is limited data on using human primary myoblast and myotube cultures to study molecular mechanisms regulating different aspects of age-associated muscle wasting, aiding in the validation of mechanisms of ageing proposed in rodent muscle. The use of human MPCs, primary myoblasts and myotubes isolated from adult and aged people, provides a physiologically relevant model of molecular mechanisms of processes associated with muscle growth, atrophy and regeneration. Here we describe in detail a robust, inexpensive, reproducible and efficient protocol for the isolation and maintenance of human MPCs&#160;and their progeny&#160;&#8212; myoblasts and myotubes from human muscle samples using enzymatic digestion. Furthermore, we have determined the passage number at which primary myoblasts from adult and aged people undergo senescence in an in vitro culture. Finally, we show the ability to transfect these myoblasts and the ability to characterize their proliferative and differentiation capacity and propose their suitability for performing functional studies of molecular mechanisms of myogenesis and muscle wasting in vitro.

This protocol describes a robust, reproducible and simple method of isolation and culture of myoblast progenitor cells from the skeletal muscle of adult and aged people. The muscles used here include foot and leg muscles. This approach enables the isolation of an enriched population of primary myoblasts for functional studies.

Skeletal muscle homeostasis depends on muscle growth (hypertrophy), atrophy and regeneration. During ageing and in several diseases, muscle wasting ...

The Isolation and Culture of Primary Epicardial Cells Derived from Human Adult and Fetal Heart Specimens

The epicardium, an epithelial cell layer covering the myocardium, has an essential role during cardiac development, as well as in the repair response of the heart after ischemic injury. When activated, epicardial cells undergo a process known as epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) to provide cells to the regenerating myocardium. Furthermore, the epicardium contributes via secretion of essential paracrine factors. To fully appreciate the regenerative potential of the epicardium, a human cell model is required. Here we outline a novel cell culture model to derive primary epicardial derived cells (EPDCs) from human adult and fetal cardiac tissue. To isolate EPDCs, the epicardium is dissected from the outside of the heart specimen and processed into a single cell suspension. Next, EPDCs are plated and cultured in EPDC medium containing the ALK 5-kinase inhibitor SB431542 to maintain their epithelial phenotype. EMT is induced by stimulation with TGF&#946;. This method enables, for the first time, the study of the process of human epicardial EMT in a controlled setting, and facilitates gaining more insight in the secretome of EPDCs that may aid heart regeneration. Furthermore, this uniform approach allows for direct comparison of human adult and fetal epicardial behavior.

The epicardium plays a crucial role in the development and repair of the heart by providing cells and growth factors to the myocardial wall. Here, we describe a method to culture human primary epicardial cells that enables the study and comparison of their developmental and adult characteristics.

The epicardium, an epithelial cell layer covering the myocardium, has an essential role during cardiac development, as well as in the repair response of ...

A Simplified and Efficient Method to Isolate Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin Tissue

Primary human keratinocytes isolated from fresh skin tissues and their expansion in vitro have been widely used for laboratory research and for clinical applications. The conventional isolation method of human keratinocytes involves a two-step sequential enzymatic digestion procedure, which has been proven to be inefficient in generating primary cells from adult tissues due to the low cell recovery rate and reduced cell viability. We recently reported an advanced method to isolate human primary epidermal progenitor cells from skin tissues that utilizes the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 in the medium. Compared with the traditional protocol, this new method is simpler, easier, and less time-consuming, and increases epithelial stem cell yield and enhances their stem cell characteristics. Moreover, the new methodology does not require the separation of the epidermis from the dermis, and, therefore, is suitable for isolating cells from different types of adult tissues. This new isolation method overcomes the major shortcomings of conventional methods and is more suitable for producing large numbers of epidermal cells with high potency both for laboratory and for clinical applications. Here, we describe the new method in detail.

Here we present a protocol to efficiently isolate primary human keratinocytes from adult skin tissues. This method simplifies the conventional procedure by using the ROCK Inhibitor Y-27632 in the inoculation medium to spontaneously separate epidermal cells from dermal cells.

Primary human keratinocytes isolated from fresh skin tissues and their expansion in vitro have been widely used for laboratory research and for clinical ...

Generation of 3D Skin Organoid from Cord Blood-derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The skin is the body&#8217;s largest organ and has many functions. The skin acts as a physical barrier and protector of the body and regulates bodily functions. Biomimetics is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems1. Skin biomimetics is a useful tool for in vitro disease research and in vivo regenerative medicine. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have the characteristic of unlimited proliferation and the ability of differentiation to three germ layers. Human iPSCs are generated from various primary cells, such as blood cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and more. Among them, cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) have emerged as an alternative cell source from the perspective of allogeneic regenerative medicine. CBMCs are useful in regenerative medicine because human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing is essential to the cell banking system. We provide a method for the differentiation of CBMC-iPSCs into keratinocytes and fibroblasts and for generation of a 3D skin organoid. CBMC-iPSC-derived keratinocytes and fibroblasts have characteristics similar to a primary cell line. The 3D skin organoids are generated by overlaying an epidermal layer onto a dermal layer. By transplanting this 3D skin organoid, a humanized mice model is generated. This study shows that a 3D human iPSC-derived skin organoid may be a novel, alternative tool for dermatologic research in vitro and in vivo.

We propose a protocol that shows how to differentiate induced pluripotent stem cell-derived keratinocytes and fibroblasts and generate a 3D skin organoid, using these keratinocytes and fibroblasts. This protocol contains an additional step of generating a humanized mice model. The technique presented here will improve dermatologic research.

The skin is the body&#8217;s largest organ and has many functions. The skin acts as a physical barrier and protector of the body and regulates bodily ...

Isolation and Staining of Mouse Skin Keratinocytes for Cell Cycle Specific Analysis of Cellular Protein Expression by Mass Cytometry

The goal of this protocol is to detect and quantify protein expression changes in a cell cycle-dependent manner using single cells isolated from the epidermis of mouse skin. There are seven important steps: separation of the epidermis from the dermis, digestion of the epidermis, staining of the epidermal cell populations with cisplatin, sample barcoding, staining with metal tagged antibodies for cell cycle markers and proteins of interest, detection of metal-tagged antibodies by mass cytometry, and the analysis of expression in the various cell cycle phases. The advantage of this approach over histological methods is the potential to assay the expression pattern of &#62;40 different markers in a single cell at different phases of the cell cycle. This approach also allows for the multivariate correlation analysis of protein expression that is more quantifiable than histological/imaging methods. The disadvantage of this protocol is that a suspension of single cells is needed, which results in the loss of location information provided by the staining of tissue sections. This approach may also require the inclusion of additional markers to identify different cell types in crude cell suspensions. The application of this protocol is evident in the analysis of hyperplastic skin disease models. Moreover, this protocol can be adapted for the analysis of specific sub-type of cells (e.g., stem cells) by the addition of lineage-specific antibodies. This protocol can also be adapted for the analysis of skin cells in other experimental species.

This protocol describes how to isolate skin keratinocytes from mouse models, to stain with metal-tagged antibodies, and to analyze stained cells by mass cytometry in order to profile the expression pattern of proteins of interest in the different cell cycle phases.

The goal of this protocol is to detect and quantify protein expression changes in a cell cycle-dependent manner using single cells isolated from the ...

Generation of Multicellular Human Primary Endometrial Organoids

The human endometrium is one of the most hormonally responsive tissues in the body and is essential for the establishment of pregnancy. This tissue can also become diseased and cause morbidity and even death. Model systems to study human endometrial biology have been limited to in vitro culture systems of single cell types. In addition, the epithelial cells, one of the major cell types of the endometrium, do not propagate well or retain their physiological traits in culture, and thus our understanding of endometrial biology remains limited. We have generated, for the first time, endometrial organoids that consist of both epithelial and stromal cells of the human endometrium. These organoids do not require any exogenous scaffold materials and specifically organize so that epithelial cells encompass the spheroid-like structure and become polarized with stromal cells in the center that produce and secrete collagen. Estrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors are expressed in the epithelial and stromal cells and treatment with physiological levels of estrogen and testosterone promote the organization of the organoids. This new model system can be used to study normal endometrial biology and disease in ways that were not possible before.

A protocol to generate human primary endometrial organoids that consist of epithelial and stromal cells and retain characteristics of the native endometrial tissue is presented. This protocol describes methods from uterine tissue acquisition to the histologic processing of endometrial organoids.

The human endometrium is one of the most hormonally responsive tissues in the body and is essential for the establishment of pregnancy. This tissue can ...