Abstract

We performed a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of keratinocytes from foreskin in children.
We harvested 18 foreskins after circumcision. The mean average age of the operated children was 4 years. The keratinocytes were isolated after double-enzymatic digestion. After filtration and centrifugation we put the keratinocytes in culture. Then, the keratinocytes were cultivated on collagen lattices. The keratinocytes were cultured in submerged condition for 2 days and then in an air-liquid interface condition for further differentiation. After cultures, the cells were counted and a histological examination was done. An immunohistologic analysis enabled us to highlight the markers characteristic of neo-epidermis differentiation.
After enzymatic digestion, we obtained 11.4 million cells per foreskin. After 10 days of culture and from 2 million cells, we obtained 24 million cells. In contact with the collagen lattices, we obtained a neo-epidermis and we described the markers of keratinocytes differentiation as well as the markers of the dermo-epidermal junction.
Keratinocytes from foreskin have a high capacity for division. These cells can divide for long periods before differentiation. These observations allow us to propose foreskin keratinocytes as a potential source of cells to provide coverage in paediatric burns.