918 Tissue engineered human hair follicles from genetically, environmentally and extrinsically reprogrammed dermal papilla cells

The document reports on a study aimed at overcoming the challenge of engineering functional human skin equivalents (HSEs) with hair follicles. The researchers developed a tissue engineering strategy using 3D-printing technology to create microchannels on HSEs that allowed dermal papilla cells (DPs) to form 3D spheroids, which are necessary for initiating hair growth. They enhanced the hair-inducing capacity of DPs by overexpressing Lef-1, a key regulator of DP gene signature. The modified DPs, when incorporated into HSEs, significantly promoted hair follicle differentiation and resulted in the growth of hair fibers. Additionally, the study tested various small molecules targeting Wnt and Jak-STAT signaling pathways to further enhance hair follicle induction. The successful regeneration of hair follicles from cultured human cells has significant implications for treating patients with substantial skin loss.