Advances in the Study of Stem-Cell-Enriched Hair Follicle Bulge Cells: A Review Featuring Characterization and Isolation of Human Bulge Cells

The document from 2007 summarizes significant progress in the study of hair follicle stem cells, with a focus on the bulge region of human hair follicles, which is rich in stem cells. It details the use of Laser Capture Microdissection to isolate these cells and Affymetrix Genechip microarrays to analyze their gene expression profiles, based on samples from 5 individuals. The study found 21 genes overrepresented and 37 genes underrepresented in bulge cells, with CD200 identified as a positive cell surface marker for these cells. The isolated bulge cells showed higher colony-forming efficiency, indicating successful stem cell enrichment. The review suggests potential applications in regenerative medicine and gene therapy for hair and skin disorders and acknowledges financial support from various foundations and grants. It also notes the importance of understanding both similarities and differences in gene expression between human and mouse bulge cells for hair biology research.