FIG. 7.

Representative immunofluorescent images for Lamin A+C, Pan-Cytokeratin, Mel5, Adiponectin, and ZO-1. (A) Representative images of Pan-Cytokeratin (green) and Human Lamin A + C (red) immunofluorescent images (Column 1; 20 × magnification; scale bar 50 μm; n = 4). Bioprinted skin was the most like normal tissue, with a thick epidermis (arrows) and integrated human cells (circles, see also A1; 40 × magnification; scale bar 20 μm; n = 4), while the control hydrogel group only had sparse keratin staining in the epidermal region and no human cells. Representative images of Mel5 (green) and Pan-Cytokeratin (red) immunofluorescent images (column 2; 40 × magnification; scale bar 20 μm; n = 4). Bioprinted skin had some positive staining for Mel5 (circles) in both the superficial and deep dermis, while the control hydrogel group had little or no positive staining. Representative images of Adiponectin (green) and Vimentin (red) immunofluorescent images (column 3; 20 × magnification; scale bar 50 μm; n = 4). Bioprinted skin had intense staining for vimentin (arrows) in the dermis, but no positive adiponectin staining (circles), suggesting that preadipocytes in the bioprinted skin may have differentiated into fibroblasts. Control hydrogel treated wounds had no vimentin staining due to the high human specificity of the antibody, but there was some adiponectin staining deep in the dermis. Representative images of ZO-1 (green) and Pan-Cytokeratin (red) immunofluorescent images (column 4; 20 × magnification; scale bar 50 μm; n = 4). Bioprinted skin was the most like human skin, with ZO-1 (circles) staining highlighting vascular lumens throughout the dermis (see also A2; 40 × magnification; scale bar 20 μm; n = 4). The control hydrogel group also had positive staining, but the structures were less luminal in shape. (B) Summary table of histological findings. Color images are available online.