Proteomics Characterization of Primary Human Oral Epithelial Cells Using a Novel Culture Technique for Use in Tissue Regeneration

The study characterized a unique population of oral mucosa keratinocytes called Epithelial-derived Pop-Up Keratinocytes (ePUKs) using a novel culture technique. These undifferentiated cells were isolated using Gravity Assisted Cell Sorting and analyzed through LC/MS/MS, revealing increased expression of proteins like DKK1, SERPINE1, follistatin, and tenascin-C, which are crucial for cellular movement, hair follicle development, and stem cell niche maintenance. The use of ePUKs in fabricating tissue-engineered oral mucosa (EVPOME) demonstrated an increased abundance of these proteins, suggesting that ePUKs could be a valuable cell source for regenerative medicine due to their potential to promote wound healing.