Rapid culture of human keratinocytes in an autologous, feeder-free system with a novel growth medium

Background aims The ability to culture human keratinocytes is beneficial in the treatment of skin injury and disease, as well as for testing chemicals in vitro as a substitute for animal testing. Results We have identified a novel culture medium for the rapid growth of keratinocytes from human skin. "Kelch's medium" supports keratinocyte growth that is as rapid as in the classical Rheinwald and Green method, but without the need for cholera toxin or xenogeneic feeder cells. It enables keratinocytes to out-compete co-cultured autologous fibroblasts so that separation of the epidermis from the dermis is no longer required before keratinocyte culture. Enzymatic digests of whole human skin can therefore be used to generate parallel cultures of autologous keratinocytes, fibroblasts and melanocytes simply by using different cell culture media. Conclusions This new keratinocyte medium and the simplified manufacturing procedures it enables are likely to be beneficial in skin engineering, especially for clinical applications.