To determine whether human sweat glands harbour keratinocyte stem cells (in analogy to the hair follicle bulge region), we developed engineered skin grafts containing human sweat gland cells. We demonstrated, the capability of human eccrine epithelial sweat gland cells to form a stratified interfollicular epidermis substitute on collagen hydrogels both, in vitro and in vivo. From these data we conclude that in analogy to the human hair follicle bulge region, also human eccrine sweat glands harbour potential keratinocyte stem cells (Biedermann 2010).
