Long-Term Culture of Skin Biopsies: Maintenance of Fibroblast Production and Competency of Reprogramming

The study demonstrates that fibroblasts derived from skin biopsies can be cultured long-term while maintaining their genomic integrity and ability to be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Skin biopsies from patients with Hikeshi Associated Leukodystrophy and healthy controls were used, with fibroblasts propagated for up to 16 generations over 473 days. Despite some decline in proliferation and tissue integrity, fibroblasts retained their morphology and marker expression, and could still be reprogrammed into iPSCs, showing pluripotency. This approach reduces the need for repeated biopsies in patients with rare disorders and has significant implications for wound therapeutics and modeling genetic disorders.