Objective: To observe the effects of the recombinant composite skin graft consisting of human epithelium and acellular xeno-dermis on full thickness skin loss wounds, so as to find a new wound covering material.
Methods: Forty-two nude mice with full thickness skin loss on the back were grafted with the composite skin (compound skin grafting group, G) and human keratinocyte sheet (control group, C), respectively. The wound healing conditions, such as wound healing rate and wound contraction rate, were observed at different time points after the operation. Simultaneously, wound tissue samples were harvested for histological examination.
Results: The wound healing rate in G group was much higher than that in C group. In contrast, the wound contraction rate in G group was obviously lower than that in C group (P < 0.05). It was indicated by histological examination that there was full differentiation of epithelium, orderly collagen proliferation and obvious reconstruction of the epithelial-dermal conjunction structure in G group. There was no obvious sign of acute immune rejection.
Conclusion: The wound covering with recombinant composite skin graft of human epithelium and acellular xeno-dermis could improve wound healing quality. The composite skin could be a new skin substitute.