Characterization of Human Sebaceous Cells In Vitro

Human sebaceous cells, isolated from adult human skin, were cultured on either bovine type I collagen or mitomycin-C- treated 3T3 fibroblasts. Sebaceous cells, termed “sebocytes”, were determined to be epithelial in nature by positive staining with monoclonal antikeratin antibodies BG2 and BG12. However, sebocyte colonies were also negative for keratins found in differentiated cells of keratinocyte colonies, as defined by monoclonal antikeratin antibodies CC2 and CC6. Sebocytes did not produce cornified envelopes in vitro and could only be induced to produce small quantities (