TY - JOUR TI - Effects of mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned media and hypoxia on wound closure by keratinocytes DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3057J3F PY - 2016 AB - Chronic, prolonged, non-healing wounds remain a significant burden to patients, healthcare professionals, and the health care system. The hypoxic environment in such wounds is one of the major factors in the failure of cellular processes that normally repair damaged skin to form a scar. It has been suggested that human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) may be used to promote the healing of chronic wounds. However, the effect of hMSCs in hypoxia is unknown. This study aimed to develop an in vitro system to investigate the effect of hMSC-conditioned media (hMSC-CM) on wound closure by keratinocytes. Keratinocytes, the major cell component of the epidermis, play a significant role in dermal wound closure. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) has been reported to interfere with hMSC-derived products; therefore, the effect of serum concentration on keratinocyte proliferation and wound closure were first investigated. It was found that 1% v/v serum could be used with no adverse effects on keratinocyte proliferation. Keratinocytes (HaCaT) were grown to confluence and a scratch was used to create a model wound. The effect of a hypoxic environment (1% v/v O2 in the gas phase), in conjunction with hMSC-CM, on scratch wound closure was measured. The results suggest that hypoxia decreases wound closure rate by keratinocytes. Furthermore, hMSC-CM and 10 fold concentrated hMSC-CM increases wound closure rate under hypoxia by 18% and 36%, respectively. This suggests that hMSC-derived products could be beneficial in wound healing under prolonged hypoxia, such as in chronic wounds. KW - Biomedical Engineering KW - Wound healing KW - Keratinocytes LA - eng ER -