The present disclosure provides recombinant nucleic acids comprising one or more polynucleotides encoding a Serine Protease Inhibitor Kazal-type (SPINK) polypeptide (e.g., a SPINK5 polypeptide); viruses comprising the recombinant nucleic acids; compositions and formulations comprising the recombinant nucleic acids and/or viruses; methods of their use (e.g., for the treatment of Netherton Syndrome); and articles of manufacture or kits thereof.

The present invention relates in part to nucleic acids encoding gene editing proteins, including novel engineered variants.

The technology relates in part to methods and compositions for ex vivo proliferation and expansion of epithelial cells.

Methods of identifying agents that modulate the interleukin-17 (IL-17) pathway are described. Said methods use detecting a level of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in a cell supernatant and/or detecting an expression level of one gene or a panel of genes of a cell treated with an agent. Also described are probes capable of detecting a gene or panel of genes and kits for identifying agents that modulate the IL-17 pathway.

Provided are methods and systems for determining functional relationships between ex vivo skin models and an inflammatory skin condition. Also provided are methods and systems for identifying modulators of inflammation of skin, as well as the use of modulators identified by such methods or systems for the preparation of cosmetic compositions, personal care products, or both.

Disclosed herein are synthetic leathers, artificial epidermal layers, artificial dermal layers, layered structures, products produced therefrom and methods of producing the same.

The present invention relates to a method of cultivating stem/progenitor cells of the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord that comprises obtaining a tissue explant from the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord and cultivating the tissue explant in suitable cultivation media and cultivation conditions over a suitable period of time. The method may include isolating the stem/progenitor cells from the tissue cultures. The stem cells may be epithelial or mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells. The isolated stem cell cells can have embryonic stem cell-like properties and can be used for various therapeutic purposes.

A microfluidic device is contemplated comprising an open-top cavity with structural anchors on the vertical wall surfaces that serve to prevent gel shrinkage-induced delamination, a porous membrane (optionally stretchable) positioned in the middle over a microfluidic channel(s). The device is particularly suited to the growth of cells mimicking dermal layers.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a three-dimensionally cultured skin model comprising dermis and epidermis, which comprises: a step of preparing the dermis using a composition comprising murine fibroblasts; and native collagen or a combination of native collagen and atelocollagen; and a step of forming the epidermis using keratinocytes. Also, the present invention relates to a three-dimensionally cultured skin model which comprises: a dermis prepared by a composition comprising murine fibroblasts, native collagen, or a combination of native collagen and atelocollagen; and epidermis formed from keratinocytes. The three-dimensionally cultured skin model of the present invention may be used widely in toxicity and efficacy experiments of medicines or cosmetics, and in the field of alternative experiments for animal experiments since the three-dimensionally cultured skin model is excellent in formation and differentiation of dermis and epidermis using murine 3T3 cells for preparing the skin model and a mixture of atelocollagen and native collagen, and has a structure similar to the human skin layer by inhibiting dermal contraction and collagen degradation in the dermis.

A cell activator of an animal cell that includes 3H-imidazo[4,5-d][1,2,3]triazine-4,6(5H,7H)-dione.