Department of Clinical Chemistry & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2011 Feb;24(1):35-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-148X.2010.00786.x. Epub 2010 Nov 9.
Skin, the largest organ of the human body, is organized into an elaborate layered structure consisting mainly of the outermost epidermis and the underlying dermis. A subcutaneous adipose-storing hypodermis layer and various appendages such as hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, nerves, lymphatics, and blood vessels are also present in the skin. These multiple components of the skin ensure survival by carrying out critical functions such as protection, thermoregulation, excretion, absorption, metabolic functions, sensation, evaporation management, and aesthetics. The study of how these biological functions are performed is critical to our understanding of basic skin biology such as regulation of pigmentation and wound repair. Impairment of any of these functions may lead to pathogenic alterations, including skin cancers. Therefore, the development of genetically controlled and well characterized skin models can have important implications, not only for scientists and physicians, but also for manufacturers, consumers, governing regulatory boards and animal welfare organizations. As cells making up human skin tissue grow within an organized three-dimensional (3D) matrix surrounded by neighboring cells, standard monolayer (2D) cell cultures do not recapitulate the physiological architecture of the skin. Several types of human skin recombinants, also called artificial skin, that provide this critical 3D structure have now been reconstructed in vitro. This review contemplates the use of these organotypic skin models in different applications, including substitutes to animal testing.
皮肤是人体最大的器官，组织成一个精细的分层结构，主要由最外层的表皮和下面的真皮组成。皮下脂肪储存的皮下组织层和各种附属物，如毛囊、汗腺、皮脂腺、神经、淋巴管和血管，也存在于皮肤中。皮肤的这些多种成分通过执行关键功能来确保生存，如保护、体温调节、排泄、吸收、代谢功能、感觉、蒸发管理和美学。研究这些生物功能是如何执行的，对于我们理解基本的皮肤生物学，如色素沉着和伤口修复的调节，至关重要。任何这些功能的损害都可能导致病理性改变，包括皮肤癌。因此，开发具有遗传控制和良好特征的皮肤模型不仅对科学家和医生，而且对制造商、消费者、管理监管机构和动物福利组织都具有重要意义。由于构成人体皮肤组织的细胞在周围细胞包围的有组织的三维（3D）基质中生长，标准的单层（2D）细胞培养不能再现皮肤的生理结构。现在已经在体外重建了几种称为人工皮肤的人类皮肤重组体，提供了这种关键的 3D 结构。这篇综述考虑了这些器官型皮肤模型在不同应用中的使用，包括替代动物测试。
