THE GROWTH OF ICHTHYOTIC EPIDERMAL-CELLS IN A 3-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION OF HUMAN SKIN, THE SKIN EQUIVALENT

We have studied the differentiation of ichthyotic epidermis in vitro using the skin equivalent model. The morphology of these ichthyotic cultures has been investigated using histopathological and histometric techniques including epidermal and stratum corneum thickness measurements. The skin equivalents have also been investigated for the presence of markers of differentiation using immunolocalization techniques. These markers include the 65.5 and 67 kDa keratins, desmoplakin, involucrin, laminin and filaggrin. It has been shown that the ichthyotic epidermis develops a fully differentiated epidermis and stratum corneum, equivalent to those seen in normal skin equivalents.