Potential of a cryopreserved cultured dermal substitute composed of hyaluronic acid and collagen to release angiogenic cytokine.

An allogeneic cultured dermal substitute (CDS) was prepared by culturing fibroblasts on a spongy matrix of hyaluronic acid (HA) and collagen (Col), which was then cryopreserved. This cryopreserved allogeneic CDS (CDS-1; cryopreserved for 1 month, CDS-6; cryopreserved for 6 months) was thawed and re-cultured for a period of 7 days to investigate the potential of the CDS for wound treatment. The cell metabolic activity in the CDS and their cytokine production were measured using an MTT assay and ELISA. Fibroblast metabolic activity in each CDS-1 and CDS-6 immediately after thawing and following 3 and 7 days of re- cultivation was 56, 67 and 93%, and 49, 64 and 86%, respectively, of that before cryopreservation. The amount of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) released from the CDS-1 on days 1, 3 and 7 of re-cultivation after thawing was 8, 44 and 92% (VEGF) and 3, 7 and 28% (HGF), respectively, of that before cryopreservation. The amount of VEGF and HGF released from the CDS-6 on days 1, 3 and 7 of re-cultivation after thawing was 9, 32 and 45% (VEGF) and 6, 10 and 27% (HGF), respectively, of that before cryopreservation. These findings showed that the potential of the CDS was restored to some extent over the first 3 days of re-cultivation after thawing. The potential of the CDS for wound treatment was then evaluated using a wound surface model, in which the each CDS-1 and CDS-6 that was re-cultured for 3 days after thawing was elevated at the air/culture medium interface, and a wound dressing was placed on top, and then cultured for 5 days. Two different types of wound dressing were tested. Fibroblasts in the CDS in Group II (placing a wound dressing with EGF) released increased amount of VEGF and HGF compared with that in Group I (placing a wound dressing without EGF). These findings suggest that re-culture of the CDS for 3 days following thawing results in a CDS with improved wound healing potential and that an EGF-incorporating wound dressing is useful as a top dressing for the CDS.