The potential of oral mucosal cells for cultured epithelium: a preliminary report.

We have developed a method to fabricate cultured epithelium for skin repair using mucosal cells. We grafted this epithelium in six cases. The site where the mucosal epithelium was transplanted keratinized normally within 4 weeks and formed normal skin. Mucosal epithelial cells have many advantages over skin epidermal keratinocytes: (1) Mucosal epithelial cells grow faster than skin keratinocytes. (2) Cultured epithelial sheets formed using mucosal cells remain viable for at least 14 days in vitro. (3) The oral cavity is a suitable location to take a tissue segment because scar due to biopsy is inconspicuous. Therefore, mucosal epithelial cells are a potential new source of cells for cultured epithelial graft.