3D-SeboSkin model application in Hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa

Xiaoxiao Hou1, Amir M. Hossini1, Georgios Nikolakis1,2, Christos C. Zouboulis1,2

1Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Dessau, Germany
2European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation e.V.

Hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent skin disease of the hair follicle. It manifests with painful, deeply localized, inflammatory skin lesions that occur in apocrine gland-rich areas of the skin, most commonly in the axillae and the inguinal and anogenital regions (Dessauer definition). The central pathogenic event in HS is believed to be the occlusion of the hair follicle leading to a perifollicular lymphohistiocytic inflammation. The purpose of this work was to develop a human HS model which could help to understand the pathophysiology of HS and to determine the action of therapeutic candidates. The 3D-SeboSkin technology (Nikolakis G et al. Exp Dermatol 24:497-502, 2015) was applied to co-culture explant involved and uninvolved skin of HS patients in direct contact with SZ95 sebaceous gland cell cultures for 3 days. The data obtained was compared with skin specimens from the same patients cultured alone under similar conditions. Detection of differential expression of HS biomarkers detected in own previous work at the mRNA and protein level was performed by H&E staining and immunohistochemistry in a group of female patients (median age 42 years, range 38-48, n=4). The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin. Using the HS 3D-SeboSkin model the structural integrity of the epidermis could be better maintained in comparison with the skin specimens cultured alone. Moreover, the 3D-SeboSkin setting facilitated the reproduction of the differential expression and pattern of several HS biomarkers (S100A9, CK16, SERPINB3) in epidermal and dermal tissue and the appendages. In conclusion, we present a reproducible, human model for studying HS. Moreover, we confirm the evidence of a beneficial interaction between HS skin explants and human SZ95 sebocytes to conserve skin integrity ex vivo. These data corroborate the value of the presented HS 3D-SeboSkin model for further HS research.