Ex Vivo Human Skin: An Alternative Test System for Skin Irritation and Corrosion Assays

Abstract

Native human skin has been reported in the literature as being an important experimental model for studying skin biology. Studies performed by our group have shown that ex vivo skin, from elective plastic surgery, maintains the biological characteristics of native skin under specific culture conditions. As such, it might be a feasible model for the safety and efficacy testing of topical substances. While Brazil is at the forefront of global regulation implementation, Brazilian researchers are not always able to transfer certain widely used protocols to their laboratories, particularly protocols that involve the use of reconstructed tissues with limited viability, such as those for skin corrosion (OECD TG 431) and irritation testing (OECD TG 439). In this study, we investigated the applicability of the ex vivo skin model to the evaluation of irritation and corrosion potential of a number of proficiency substances described in TG 431 and TG 439. The skin fragments were standardised in size and diameter, and placed into cell culture inserts. The experimental protocol was conducted according to TG 431 and TG 439. The results obtained show that ex vivo skin could represent a promising tool for the evaluation of irritation and corrosion potential of substances (subject to inclusion and exclusion criteria), as recommended by OECD guidelines. While this is a proof-of-concept study, the use of ex vivo skin should be considered for such testing.

Evaluation of human skin response to solar‐simulated radiation in an ex vivo model: Effects and photoprotection of L‐Carnosine

“…These models allow for a more physiologically relevant system to study skin functions and offer a more accurate prediction of drug and cosmetic efficacy and safety. [33][34][35] In this study, ex vivo human skin exposed to solar-simulated radiation (SSR) was used as model, and L-Carnosine was tested as example of photoprotective treatment. We show that our SSR model on ex vivo human skin is a valuable system to assess the consequences of solar light and the capacity of applied compounds to counteract them.…”

“…To study the function of the skin, ex vivo skin models allow for a more physiologically relevant system compared to in vivo animal models and in vitro cell culture models and offer a more accurate prediction of drug and cosmetic efficacy and safety. [33][34][35] The aim of this work was to set up a methodology that could be used to verify the effects of solar radiation on human skin and to assess the actual capacity of different active principles, such as L-Carnosine, in protecting irradiated skin. This has been done using ex vivo human skin exposed to solar-simulated radiation (SSR) and evaluating the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and its biochemical endpoints (AGEs), as well as gene expression changes.…”

Reciprocal inflammatory signaling in an ex-vivo explant model for neurofibromatosis type 1-related cutaneous neurofibromas

“…Based on a comprehensive review of the literature, this model is the first description of a benign, skin tumor explant. The feasibility of normal skin explants is well established (Eberlin, Silva et al 2020, Neil, Brown et al 2020, Eberlin, Facchini et al 2021). Skin explants have been useful for studying drug response, cellular biology and for post-hoc cell isolation.…”

Comparative study to evaluate the wound healing efficacy of topical formulations containing Triticum aestivum L. (Triticum vulgare) in a native human skin model

“…Nesse estudo, avaliamos os efeitos de duas formulações tópicas contendo extratos padronizados de Triticum aestivum L. (sinônimo Triticum vulgare) no processo de reepitelização cutânea, utilizando um modelo experimental de cultura de pele humana. [12][13] Os resultados mostraram que a formulação contendo o extrato de grão inteiro de trigo Triticum aestivum L. (EGTA--PR) e o extrato aquoso de Triticum aestivum L. (EATA-FI) foram capazes de acelerar o processo de reepitelização após oito dias de tratamento em cultura de pele humana submetida a lesão tecidual. Adicionalmente, foram observados aumento da redensificação dérmica e marcação proteica de EGF, particularmente após o tratamento com o EGTA-PR.…”