Three-dimensional culture of dermal papilla  cells improves their  in vitro angiogenic activity

OPPENHEIMER, FLORENCIA MAIA; CERUTI, JULIETA MARÍA; LEIROS, GUSTAVO JOSÉ; BALAÑA, MARÍA EUGENIA

Amsterdam

Congreso; European Society for Dermatological Research Annual Meeting; 2022

European Society for Dermatological Research

Tissue-engineered skin constructs correct vascularization remains a major challenge. Wehave shown that the presence of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in these constructs favors thevascularization process, resulting in a better wound healing and graft take. To culture DPC asspheres increases the expression of angiogenic genes such as VEGF, angiogenin and FGF.Since angiogenesis in scaffolds is essential for grafts to survive and integrate with existing hosttissue, our aim was to compare the ability of monolayer and sphere cultures of DPC to favorendothelial cell migration and neovessel development by using two angiogenic study models.In the migration assay, an increased HUVEC migration was observed in the presence of DPCspheres conditioned media compared to those with conditioned media by DPC monolayer.For endothelial cell tube formation assay, DPC monolayer or spheres were seeded in thebottom of a multiwell plate and covered with Matrigel. Once gelled, culture media wasadded and conditioned for 72 hours. HUVEC were seeded in each well and tubules formationwas photographed at different times. An increase in the total number of segments, joints andnetworks, which are angiogenesis characteristic hallmarks, was observed when HUVEC wereseeded in spheres conditioned media. In conclusion, three-dimensional culture of DPCsimproved the angiogenic capabilities of HUVEC in vitro. In this way, the use of DPC spheresin skin substitutes may favor the vascularization of the grafts, favoring the closure of thewound and the graft take.