Hello,
I am currently working on the design and fabrication of scaffolds for wound healing.
For in vitro tests, which cells do you use? Fibroblasts, keratinocytes? Primary ones or cell lines?
Hello Lidia Maeso,
You may perform wound healing assay using either established cell lines or primary cells.
When you perform such assay, it is important that you maintain conditions as consistent as possible for a successful assay. For established cell lines, culturing protocols which include information such as the recommended growth medium, sub-culturing and expected doubling time are provided to you. But for primary cells, the protocols are often developed by the individual and are often more difficult to standardize.
I prefer using cell lines, though primary cells closely mimic the physiological state of cells in vivo and are expected to maintain their in vivo functions under optimal conditions for a short period of time.
Among cell lines, you could either use fibroblasts or keratinocytes. Both are the major cell types that respond to the inflammatory phase in the cutaneous repair/regeneration process. Inflammatory signals activate the proliferation and maturation of these two cells types, which is essential for wound healing. Among the fibroblasts, you could use 3T3L1 cells and for keratinocytes you could use HaCaT cell line.
Best.