An in vitro investigation into the pigmentary phenotype of melanocytes and keratinocyte co-cultures to improve wound healing

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.On healing, partial-thickness burn wounds usually result in depigmentation of the skin. This is due to the loss of melanocytes. The lack of pigmentation in the healed wound is particularly prominent in dark-skinned individuals and could result in serious psychosocial consequences such as low self-esteem, stigmatisation and discrimination among sufferers. Methods aimed at investigating rapid and efficient repigmentation in wounded skin are therefore pertinent. The aims of this study were two-fold: i) To promote melanin synthesis in human skin cells using different ratios of human melanocytes (Mc) to keratinocytes (Kc) in an in vitro co-culture system, in order to ensure pigmentation of the skin and, ii) To understand cellular mechanisms that contribute basic scientific knowledge towards clinically improved wound healing