The role of ADGRE5/CD97 in human retinal pigment epithelial cell growth and survival.

Cell surface molecules of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells participate in the pathogenesis of retinal diseases. In an attempt to identify cell surface proteins that play a role in RPE cell-cell interactions, we have considered studying the expression, regulation, and signaling of ADGRE5/CD97, an adhesion G protein-coupled receptor family member, based on its known adhesive function in other cell types such as leukocytes. We showed that RPE cells express three isoforms of CD97 and identified inflammation-related cytokines as important mediators regulating CD97 expression.

A human serum-enriched medium formulation supports high viability and marker expression in primary melanocyte cultures from the outer root sheath and epidermis.

Formulating clinically relevant melanocyte cultivation media that maintain the balance between proliferation and maturation to functional melanocytes is a major experimental and regulatory challenge. Within the translation of human melanocytes from the outer root sheath of human hair follicle (HUMORS), we developed a melanocyte medium free of chemical mitogens, chemical melanogenesis enhancers and bovine products, enabling proliferation as well as melanotic differentiation. The formulation involved the replacement of bovine pituitary extract (BPE) and bovine serum (FBS) with human serum (HS) combined with ascorbic acid, CaCl , epinephrine, L-glutamine, insulin and fibroblast growth factor.

Polycaprolactone fiber meshes provide a 3D environment suitable for cultivation and differentiation of melanocytes from the outer root sheath of hair follicle.

Melanocytes differentiated from the stem cells of human hair follicle outer root sheath (ORS) have the potential for developing non-invasive treatments for skin disorders out of a minimal sample: of hair root. With a robust procedure for melanocyte cultivation from the ORS of human hair follicle at hand, this study focused on the identification of a suitable biocompatible, biodegradable carrier as the next step toward their clinical implementation. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a known biocompatible material used for a number of medical devices.

The effect of detergent-based decellularization procedures on cellular proteins and immunogenicity in equine carotid artery grafts.

Decellularized equine carotid arteries (dEAC) may represent a reasonable alternative to alloplastic materials in vascular replacement therapy. Acellularity of the matrix is standardly evaluated by DNA quantification what however may not record sufficiently the degree of matrix immunogenicity. Thus, our aim was to analyze dEAC with a low DNA content for residual cellular proteins.