The cell migration effects of decellularized porcine placental extracellular matrix in viable wounded human skin ex vivo

Introduction: Decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) medical devices can facilitate healing of hard-to-heal wounds by acting as a scaffold. A novel decellularized porcine placental ECM product* contains collagen, fibronectin, laminin, elastin, hyaluronic acid, and glycosaminoglycans,1 while being largely free of cells, cell debris, and DNA. The effects of this placental ECM on the healing of wounded human skin in a viable ex vivo model was examined using a range of microscopic tissue and cell staining techniques.Methods:ECM-treated and -untreated pre-wounded skin models were incubated for up to 6 days. Wounded skin samples were fixed and embedded before performing cross sectioning. Histological characterization was performed to determine the structure of both epidermal and dermal compartments using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Masson trichrome staining. Immunolabelling and fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize the binding of Cytokeratin 17 (a marker associated with cellular migration) antibody to the wound tissue.Results:H&E and Masson trichrome staining showed cellular migration of cells, with an increase in cell migration at the wound edge in ECM-treated samples compared to the untreated control, suggesting initial stages of the wound healing. Immunolabelling results showed an increase in the presence of Cytokeratin 17 in the wounded skin sections treated with the ECM compared to the untreated control. As Cytokeratin 17 is specific for keratinocytes, this suggested an enhancement in keratinocyte migration when the wounded skin was treated with the decellularized porcine placental ECM.Discussion: The decellularized porcine placental ECM was shown to stimulate cell migration in an ex vivo wounded skin model using a range of microscopic staining techniques. Further studies in similarly complex models using a range of microscopic and immunological techniques, and examining other cellular responses, may help to confirm these findings.References:* InnovaMatrix AC 1. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. K193552 501(k) Summary. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?id=K19355