Epidermal stem cells (ESCs) are crucial for maintenance and self- renewal of skin epithelium and also for regular hair cycling. Their role in wound healing is also indispensable. ESCs reside in a defined outer root sheath portion of hair follicle-also known as the bulge region. ECS are also found between basal cells of the interfollicular epidermis or mucous membranes. The non-epithelial elements such as mesenchymal stem cell-like elements of dermis or surrounding adipose tissue can also contribute to this niche formation. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) participate in formation of common epithelial malignant diseases such as basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. In this review article, we focus on the role of cancer microenvironment with emphasis on the effect of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). This model reflects various biological aspects of interaction between cancer cell and CAFs with multiple parallels to interaction of normal epidermal stem cells and their niche. The complexity of intercellular interactions within tumor stroma is depicted on example of malignant melanoma, where keratinocytes also contribute the microenvironmental landscape during early phase of tumor progression. Interactions seen in normal bulge region can therefore be an important source of information for proper understanding to melanoma. The therapeutic consequences of targeting of microenvironment in anticancer therapy and for improved wound healing are included to article.

• Keywords
• cancer microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblast, niche, stem cell, wound healing,
• MeSH
• Epidermal Cells MeSH
• Epithelial Cells pathology   MeSH
• Fibroblasts pathology   MeSH
• Wound Healing physiology   MeSH
• Keratinocytes pathology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Melanoma pathology   MeSH
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells pathology   MeSH
• Neoplastic Stem Cells pathology   MeSH
• Tumor Microenvironment physiology   MeSH
• Skin Neoplasms pathology   MeSH
• Stem Cell Niche physiology   MeSH
• Hair Follicle cytology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH

The cell/tissue engineering therapy of extensive or chronic skin wounds is a highly topical task of the contemporary medicine. One of possible therapeutic approaches is grafting of in vitro cultured keratinocytes directly to the wound bed, where the cells colonize the wound, proliferate and improve the re-epithelization process. Because the successful cultivation of keratinocytes needs an application of feeder cells, the exclusion of these cells from the cultivation system is highly required. In this study we show a positive influence of 2-ethoxyethyl methacrylate as a component of cultivation support on growth of keratinocytes without feeder cells. Keratinocytes cultured on these surfaces are able to migrate to the model wound bed in vitro, where they form distinct colonies and have a normal differentiation potential.

• MeSH
• Biocompatible Materials chemistry   MeSH
• Cell Culture Techniques MeSH
• Keratinocytes cytology   physiology   MeSH
• Culture Media MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Methacrylates chemistry   MeSH
• Polymers chemistry   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Biocompatible Materials MeSH
• Culture Media MeSH
• Methacrylates MeSH
• Polymers MeSH

Four series of macroporous hydrogels based on crosslinked copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-sodium methacrylate (MANa), copolymer HEMA-[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (MOETACl), terpolymer HEMA-MANa-MOETACl and on a polyelectrolyte complex were used as carriers for immobilization of proteins, chicken egg white albumin and avidin. The adsorption capacity of the hydrogels for the two proteins, kinetics and pH dependence of albumin adsorption and desorption were studied. The morphology of the hydrogels with and without immobilized albumin was studied by low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy.

• MeSH
• Adsorption MeSH
• Albumins analysis   chemistry   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Avidin analysis   chemistry   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Coated Materials, Biocompatible analysis   chemistry   MeSH
• Hydrogels analysis   chemistry   MeSH
• Kinetics MeSH
• Methacrylates analysis   chemistry   MeSH
• Porosity MeSH
• Surface Properties MeSH
• Materials Testing MeSH
• Protein Binding MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Evaluation Study MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Albumins MeSH
• Avidin MeSH
• Coated Materials, Biocompatible MeSH
• Hydrogels MeSH
• hydroxyethyl methacrylate MeSH Browser
• Methacrylates MeSH