TLDR Researchers successfully grew horse skin cells that produce pigment from hair follicle samples.
The study successfully adapted a method for culturing human melanocytes to equine melanocytes from the outer root sheath (ORS) of horse hair follicles, using equine serum in the culture medium. The cultured equine melanocytes (eMORS) exhibited typical melanocyte morphology, expressed key melanocytic markers, and produced melanin. The primary culture reached 90% confluence within 2 to 4 weeks, and gene expression analysis showed stable expression of melanocyte markers over multiple passages. This method provided a foundation for further research into equine hair follicle biology and potential applications in regenerative medicine.
7 citations
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July 2016 in “Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A” The study explored the use of a hydrogel named cGEL as a potential carrier for human melanocytes derived from the outer root sheath of hair follicles (HUMORS) and normal human epidermal melanocytes (NHEM) for non-invasive treatments of depigmented skin disorders. cGEL, an enzymatically degraded bovine gelatin cross-linked with an oligomeric copolymer, provided a superior three-dimensional cultivation environment compared to other materials like Collagen Cell Carrier® and polycaprolactone matrices. It significantly increased melanin production and enhanced the expression of melanotic genes PAX3, PMEL, TYR, and MITF, suggesting that cGEL could be a promising candidate for grafting carriers in skin transplantation procedures.
240 citations
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April 2011 in “Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research” Melanocyte stem cells in hair follicles are key for hair color and could help treat greying and pigment disorders.
95 citations
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July 2006 in “British Journal of Dermatology” 
56 citations
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July 2005 in “Experimental Dermatology” Injected human hair follicle cells can create new, small hair follicles in skin cultures.
January 2003 in “Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery” Dermal papilla cells can help form hair follicles and produce hair.
61 citations
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October 1996 in “Development” Hair growth can be stimulated by combining certain skin cells, which can rejuvenate old cells and cause them to specialize in hair follicle creation.
94 citations
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February 1994 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” EGF makes hair follicles grow longer but stops hair production.
