The Effect of Partially Hydrolyzed Casein on the Growth of Human Skin Diploid Cells in Vitro

Abstract

SummaryThe effect of various partially hydrolyzed caseins (PHC) on the growth of human skin diploid (prepuce) cells cultivated in vitro has been investigated. The results indicate that PHC I (amino N/total N ratio of 0.09) contains growth-stimulating activity for prepuce cells in the absence and presence of serum. This activity of PHC I was abolished when casein was further hydrolyzed with trypsin (amino N/total N ratio of 0.36 or 0.70). It is suggested that the growth-stimulating activity of casein is attributed to the casein itself or the presence of optimal amounts of amino acids and/or polypeptide fractions. Human kidney (SWINK), swine testis (ST-92) and rabbit epidermal cells (SflEp) showed little or no growth stimulation in any of the concentrations of PHC I tested. A cell culture system to assay PHC I activity is now available which could eventually short-circuit the routine use of animal assays to test burn or other wound healing cell activity. PHC I appears to substitute for serum in growth of pr...