Because conventional monolayer culture lacks epithelial-mensenchymal interaction, cultivated cells have an morphologic, biochemical, and functional characteristics differ from in vivo tissue. Moreover, it's condition is not able to induce cellular differention due to submerged culture condition.

Therefore, the aims of this study were to develop and evaualte the in vitro experimental model that maintains epithelial-mesenchymal interaction by organotypic raft culture, and to characterize biologic properties of three-dimensionally reconstituted oral keratinocytes by histological and immunohistochemical analysis. The results were as follow;

1. Gingival keratinocytes reconstituted by three-dimensional organotypic culture revealed similar morphologic characteristics to biopsied patient specimen showing stratification, hyperkeratinosis, matutation of epithelial architecture.

2. Connective tissue structure was matured, and there is no difference during stratification period of epithelial 3-dimensional culture.

3. The longer of air-exposure culture on three-dimensionally reconstituted cells, the more epithelial maturation, increased epithelial thickness and surface keratinization

4. In reconstitued mucosa, the whole epidermis was positively stained by anti-involucrin antibody, and there is no difference according to air-exposured culture period.

5. The Hsp was expressed in the epithelial layer of three-dimensionally cultured cells, especially basal layer of epidermis. The change of Hsp expression was not significant by culture stratification.

6. Connexin 43, marker of cell-cell communication was revealed mild immunodeposition in reconstitued epithelium, and there is no significant expression change during stratification.

These results suggest that three-dimensional oragnotypic co-culture of normal gingival keratinocytes with dermal equivalent consisting type I collagen and gingival fibroblasts results in similar morphologic and immunohistochemical characteristics to in vivo patient specimens. And this culture system seems to provide adequate micro-environment for in vitro tissue reconstitution. Therefore, further study will be focused to study of in vitro gingivitis model, development of novel perioodntal disease therapeutics and epithelial-mensenchymal interaction.