Meyers, C. Organotypic (Raft) Epithelial Culture System for Contact Dermatitis Testing. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. - Animal. 1998. 34(3): 40-A. Part II Abstract T-1013. [CopyrightÓ 1998 by the Society of In Vitro Biology (formerly the Tissue Culture Association). Permission to reproduce on website by the copyright owner.]

In response to environmental insult, keratinocytes can play a pivotal role in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), as well as irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). We have developed a working hypothesis that an in vitro keratinocyte tissue culture system can be efficacious for assessing the capacity of industrial, cosmetic, environmental, and therapeutic products to induce ACD and ICD. A crucial component for testing our working hypothesis is the use of a proper in vitro keratinocytes system. An assortment of techniques have been tried by various investigators to culture epithelial cells. The organotypic (raft) culture system has been shown to most accurately mimic the in vivo physiology of the epidermis. Growing epithelial cells in the raft system has allowed for a complete differentiation program in contrast to what is achieved in monolayer cultures. We have evaluated compounds well characterized in their capacity to induce irritant contact dermatitis and allergic dermatitis for their ability to effect the expression of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules in full thickness human epidermis. Additionally, changes in the morphological and biochemical differentiation of the epithelium following treatment will be correlated with the expression of these immunoregulatory proteins. We are attempting to develop this human epithelial organotypic (raft) culture system as a mechanistically-based replacement for animal testing.