Promotion of skin wound healing using prevascularized oral mucosal cell sheet

Background This study examined the potential use of our newly developed prevascularized oral mucosal cell sheet for the treatment of skin wounds. Methods Mucosal cell sheets containing cultured keratinocytes and plasma fibrin without (K sheet) or with a mixture of fibroblasts and endothelial progenitor cells (PV sheet) were transplanted into full-thickness skin excisional wounds of nude mice. Results This technique was successful for in vitro culture; expanding keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial progenitor cells; and generating prevascularized mucosal cell sheets. Cell sheets promoted in vivo wound healing with rapid wound closure and less scarring compared to controls. This result was more apparent in the PV than the K sheet (P < .05). Wounds covered with cell sheets showed less expression of TGFB1, ACTA2, and FN1 mRNAs than the controls (P < .05). Conclusion The prevascularized mucosal cell sheet showed in vivo efficacy and tissue plasticity in cutaneous wounds by promoting accelerated healing.