Background: from reconstructed skin model that also contains fibroblasts seeded in a collagen matrix.EpiskinTM and full thickness model from EpiskinTM (FTM) are human skin models obtainedin vitro growth of keratinocytes into the five typical layers of the epidermis. FTM is a full thicknessObjectives: FTM and how their levels compare with the human epidermis, dermis and total skin.To assess whether enzymes involved in chemical detoxification are expressed in EpiskinTM andMethods: cultured EpiskinQuantification of the mRNA expression levels of phases 1 and 2 metabolizing enzymes inTM and FTM and human epidermis, dermis and total skin using Realtime PCR.Results: Episkinenzymes and flavin monooxygenases are expressed at low levels, while phase 2 metabolizing enzymesare expressed at much higher levels, especially, glutathione-S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), steroid sulfotransferase (SULT2B1b), and N-acetyl transferase (NAT5). The presentstudy also identifies the presence of many enzymes involved in cholesterol, arachidonic acid, leukotriene,prostaglandin, eicosatrienoic acids, and vitamin D3 metabolisms.The data show that the expression profiles of 61 phases 1 and 2 metabolizing enzymes inTM, FTM and epidermis are generally similar, with some exceptions. Cytochrome P450-dependentConclusion: vitro metabolisms. They could be used to replace invasive methods or laboratory animals for skin experiments.The present data strongly suggest that EpiskinTM and FTM represent reliable and valuable inhuman skin models for studying the function of phases 1 and 2metabolizing enzymes in xenobiotic