Cultured Cells From the Adult Human Hair Follicle Dermis Can Be Directed Toward Adipogenic and Osteogenic Differentiation

April 2005 in “ Journal of Investigative Dermatology ”

Gavin D. Richardson, Elizabeth C. Arnott, Claire J. Whitehouse, Clifford M. Lawrence, Nicholas Hole, Colin A.B. Jahoda

hair follicle dermal papilla dermal sheath adipogenic differentiation osteogenic differentiation adipocytes osteocytes stem cell niche skin

TLDR Human hair follicle cells can become fat and bone cells, useful for therapy.

The study demonstrated that human hair follicle dermal papilla (DP) and dermal sheath (DS) cells could be directed towards adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Using scalp or beard follicles from four individuals aged 23 to 91, the researchers established cell lines that successfully differentiated into adipocytes and osteocytes, regardless of the donor's age. This finding suggested that the follicle dermis is a significant stem cell niche in the skin, with potential applications in stem cell and tissue engineering beyond dermatological contexts. The study provided evidence that these cells retained their differentiation potential over time in culture, supporting their use in therapeutic applications.

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