Experience gained during the long term cultivation of keratinocytes for treatment of burns patients

Both allogenic and autologous cultured skin cells have been used clinically on burn patients. In vitro cultivation of human keratinocytes has been routinely provided by the Central Tissue Bank in Bratislava since 1996, with an average annual production of around 7,000 cm(2). Keratinocytes have been cultivated using a version of the original by Rheinwald and Green (Cell 6:317-330, 1975) methodology which has been modified over time in our laboratory as we gained more experience with this serial passage system. We have observed that the growth of cultured keratinocytes depends on several important factors, including the timing of skin sample procurement, the method of skin sample procurement, the general condition of the patient, the quality and composition of the culture media and, to a lesser extent, the age of the patient. We aim to share our experience with other cell cultivation facilities.