Methods in cell biology: Cell-derived matrices

摘要: Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro skin and cancer models have become an invaluable tool research. They go back to 1979, when Bell colleagues reported on the establishment of a fibroblast-dependent collagen tissue (Bell, Ivarsson, & Merrill, 1979). On top such stratified differentiated epidermis could be established Solomon, Hydrogel-based dermal equivalents been generated ever since upon co-culture with normal human keratinocytes, these constructs were then termed equivalents. Due number deficiencies, most important one being their restricted survival time, new developments helped circumvent premature fibroblast activation destruction. By avoiding for equivalent (DE), we proposed, scaffold-based DE, allowing fibroblasts reorganize primary fibrin solution into "authentic" matrix (Boehnke et al., 2007; Stark 2004, 2006). With this, our goal long-term equivalent-successful cultivation several months-was achieved. Nevertheless, also this model presented limitations. One its opaqueness made it difficult image intact tissue. Another draw-back was that tumor cells invasion used scaffold as guardrail leaving behind unspecific pattern. All avoided by approach, fibroblast-derived matrix-based model, based work Ahlfors Billiar (2007) We here provide protocol type thereby providing basis future field