The enrichment of a population of keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs) from a
preparation of keratinocytes and KSCs, includes pre-enrichment by
contacting a sample of keratinocytes and KSCs with a collagen-coated
culture plate for a sufficient time for KSCs to adhere, followed by
washing away the non-adherent cells and recovering the adherent cells.
The recovered adherent cells are sorted by their expression level of EGFR
so that cells are recovered that have an expression level of EGFR of less
than about 50% of the maximum level of EGFR expression, and the recovered
cells have an expansion potential of at least 10.sup.9 after about 100
days in culture.