Fresh and cryopreserved cultured keratinocyte allografts for wound healing.

The use of cultured human epithelium for skin grafting has recently been developed and used successfully to treat burns and various smaller skin defects. Cultured epidermal allografts are replaced by the recipient's own skin. The use of cultured allografts has a healing effect in chronic ulcerations and in burn wounds, probably by releasing growth factors. We have recently demonstrated that cryopreserved allografts can also induce wound healing. Both an edge effect and complete healing were found in ulcers treated with fresh or cryopreserved cultured epidermal allografts. These findings could be important in patient care, since in wound-healing problems, cryopreserved allografts could be immediately available. The cryopreservation of human keratinocyte sheets may also open new perspectives in pharmacotoxicological research on topically applied substances.