Growth and Behavior of Cultured Human Epidermal Cells Implanted in Homologous Skin

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Abstract
It has been observed that allergic reactions in patients with the lymphomatous disease mycosis fungoides have beneficially altered the course of this disease. In an attempt to stimulate immune reactivity in these patients and to study cellular reactions to homologous tissue of constant antigcnic composition, human epidermal cells (strain NCTC 3075), isolated from normal skin 8 years earlier and maintained in culture, were injected intradermally into 8 patients with mycosis fungoides. Sites of implanted cells were excised at varying intervals. In patients with advanced stages of disease the implanted cells remained viable and proliferated for long periods, the longest observed being 2 months. In these patients there was almost complete absence of local cellular reaction by the host. The rate of growth of implanted cells approximated their growth rate in in vitro culture with a doubling time of 4 to 5 days. In 2 of 3 patients with early disease, there were local cellular reaction by the host and shortened survival of the implanted cells. In none of the patients did the implanted cells, even though returned to the natural environment of their origin, show any tendency to keratinize or otherwise manifest any evidence of normal differentiated behavior.