Safe Selection of Genetically Manipulated Human Primary Keratinocytes with Very High Growth Potential Using CD24

In the 2007 study, researchers developed a method to select genetically modified human primary keratinocytes with high growth potential using CD24 as a marker. They found that keratinocytes expressing CD24 and GFP could be extensively propagated, indicating a significant proportion of stem cells. The selected cells maintained their growth and differentiation capacities over 300 generations, both in vitro and in vivo, without showing signs of genetic instability. The study concluded that the CD24-based selection strategy is safe and effective for enriching keratinocyte stem cells and could be a realistic prospect for curative gene transfer in conditions prone to cancer. However, the document also notes the complex relationship between CD24 expression and cancer, suggesting that further research is needed to understand its role in growth promotion, survival, carcinogenesis, and metastasis in skin.