Oral mucosa: an alternative epidermic cell source to develop autologous dermal-epidermal substitutes from diabetic subjects

• Published in: Journal of applied oral science 2017-03, Vol.25 (2), p.186-195
• Main Authors: Guzmán-Uribe, Daniela, Alvarado-Estrada, Keila Neri, Pierdant-Pérez, Mauricio, Torres-Álvarez, Bertha, Sánchez-Aguilar, Jesus Martin, Rosales-Ibáñez, Raúl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biocompatible Materials; Biological dressings; Case-Control Studies; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Proliferation; Cell Transplantation - methods; Cells, Cultured; Collagen - analysis; DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - therapy; Epidermal Cells; Epithelial Cells - transplantation; Female; Fibroblasts; Humans; Keratinocytes - cytology; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa - cytology; Oral mucosa; Original; Reproducibility of Results; Skin substitutes; Skin Ulcer - therapy; Skin, Artificial; Time Factors; Transplantation, Autologous; Wound Healing
• ISSN: 1678-7757; 1678-7765; 1678-7765; 1678-7757
• DOI: 10.1590/1678-77572016-0217

The aim of this study was to obtain autologous dermal-epidermal skin substitutes from oral mucosa from diabetic subjects as a first step towards a possible clinical application for cases of diabetic foot. Oral mucosa was obtained from diabetic and healthy subjects (n=20 per group). Epidermal cells were isolated and cultured using autologous fibrin to develop dermal-epidermal in vitro substitutes by the air-liquid technique with autologous human serum as a supplement media. Substitutes were immunocharacterized with collagen IV and cytokeratin 5-14 as specific markers. A Student´s t- test was performed to assess the differences between both groups. It was possible to isolate epidermal cells from the oral mucosa of diabetic and healthy subjects and develop autologous dermal-epidermal skin substitutes using autologous serum as a supplement. Differences in the expression of specific markers were observed and the cytokeratin 5-14 expression was lower in the diabetic substitutes, and the collagen IV expression was higher in the diabetic substitutes when compared with the healthy group, showing a significant difference. Cells from oral mucosa could be an alternative and less invasive source for skin substitutes and wound healing. A difference in collagen production of diabetic cells suggests diabetic substitutes could improve diabetic wound healing. More research is needed to determine the crosstalk between components of these skin substitutes and damaged tissues.