Agents and methods for treating and preventing seborrheic keratosis

Abstract

Provided herein are methods and assays for isolating and culturing seborrheic keratosis cells ex vivo. Also provided herein are screening assays using cultured seborrheic keratosis cells and methods for treating seborrheic keratosis in a subject.

1 . A method for culturing seborrheic keratosis cells ex vivo, the method comprising:
 (a) contacting a biological sample comprising seborrheic keratosis cells obtained from a subject with a solution comprising a dispase enzyme at a temperature and for a time sufficient to initiate dissociation of the seborrheic keratosis cells from the biological sample, and   (b) culturing the dissociated seborrheic keratosis cells.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is below a standard room temperature of 21° C. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time sufficient to initiate digestion of the seborrheic keratosis cells is at least 15 hours. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of contacting the biological sample comprising seborrheic keratosis cells with an additional protease. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the additional protease is Trypsin. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of adding a culture medium and filtering larger particles from the dissociated cells before the culturing of step (b). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the dissociated cells are cultured on coated plates.