Optimization of the porcine adult skin-derived precursor cell isolation protocol

Neuronal and glial differentiation potential of skin-derived precursors is of great interest for clinical application in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. In this sense, the pig model is a great candidate for the development of preclinical models. To the date, skin-derived precursor spheres have not been isolated from adult porcine skin. In order to optimize the protocol for isolating dermal precursor spheres from adult porcine skin, 15 porcine skin biopsies were subjected to three different processing protocols. Liberase-based digestion of ventral porcine skin gave rise to more cells with spherogenic capacity than other protocols and these spheres presented phenotypic and differentiation potential consistent with bona fide skin-derived precursor cells.