Abstract: A whole skin model is made by a process for the production of a whole skin model comprising the steps of: (a) providing a poorly soluble collagen obtained from collagen-containing tissue; (b) forming a homogeneous aqueous suspension by mixing the collagen with an aqueous medium; (c) forming a first matrix (A) by lyophilizing the collagen suspension; (d) forming a second matrix (B) by cross-linking the collagen in the first matrix (A) to form a mechanically stabilized second matrix (B); (e) sowing fibroblasts onto the second matrix (B) and allowing the fibroblasts to grow; (f) sowing keratinocytes onto the second matrix B and allowing the keratinocytes to grow; (g) further cultivating the fibroblasts and keratinocytes growing in and on matrix (B) to form a complete whole skin model comprised of a dermal and epidermal part.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of epithelial integument with inflammatory changes that comprise administering to a patient suffering from such a disorder a pharmaceutically acceptable amount of a nucleic acid comprising a non-methylated CpG motif. Other aspects of the invention relate to cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions that comprise nucleic acids comprising a non-methylated CpG motif, and to methods of preparing such compositions.