Epithelial Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Undergoing Three-Dimensional Cultivation with Collagen Sponge Scaffold via an Indirect Co-Culture Strategy

The study explored the differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) into keratinocytes using a three-dimensional (3D) cultivation model with collagen sponge scaffolds (CSS) and an indirect co-culture strategy with HaCaT cells. The 3D model, which mimicked the skin's epidermal layer, demonstrated that hASCs could successfully adhere, proliferate, and differentiate into keratinocyte-like cells, as evidenced by the expression of keratinocyte markers such as keratin 14 (K14) and E-cadherin. The study concluded that the 3D co-culture system enhanced the differentiation of hASCs into epithelial-like cells compared to a 2D system or without co-cultivation. The research highlighted the potential of using hASCs and CSS in tissue engineering to promote wound healing and reduce the need for autologous skin grafts, although further in vivo studies were needed to verify these findings.