Cutaneous Epithelial Stem Cells

November 2013 in “ Elsevier eBooks ”

Maksim V. Plikus, Elsa Treffeisen, Anne Wang, George Cotsarelis

Studysummary This review discusses the evolving understanding of epithelial stem cells, noting how new models challenge old assumptions and suggesting multiple stem cell populations contribute differently to skin and hair follicle regeneration.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The 2013 study "Cutaneous Epithelial Stem Cells" by Denise Gay et al. explored the role of epithelial stem cells in skin and hair regeneration. The researchers found that these stem cells, located in the epidermis and hair follicles, have the capacity for self-renewal and differentiation. The study challenged the traditional model of skin renewal, suggesting that both a rapid cycling progenitor and a slow cycling stem cell maintain skin homeostasis. In hair follicles, stem cells were found to govern cyclical regeneration. The study identified the bulge of the hair follicle as the true stem cell source for hair regrowth, containing at least three distinct subpopulations of stem cells. The study also found that K15+ bulge stem cells in the hair follicle can shift their fate towards the epidermal lineage in response to wound-induced signaling, but do not contribute significantly to skin homeostasis. The document also discussed the potential of using hair follicle stem cells in tissue engineering for the treatment of alopecia, with early experiments showing promising results in regenerating human hair in vivo from bulge-derived stem cells.

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Research cited in this study

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research Fgf9 From Dermal γδ T Cells Induces Hair Follicle Neogenesis After Wounding

237 citations , June 2013 in “Nature Medicine”

This study found that fibroblast growth factor 9, initially secreted by γδ T cells, plays a key role in modulating hair follicle regeneration in mice after skin wounds.

research Identification of Stem Cell Populations in Sweat Glands and Ducts Reveals Roles in Homeostasis and Wound Repair

265 citations , July 2012 in “Cell”

This study found multipotent progenitors in sweat ducts that become unipotent after sweat gland development, highlighting distinct regenerative capabilities in adult glandular skin stem cell populations.

research Fully Functional Hair Follicle Regeneration Through the Rearrangement of Stem Cells and Their Niches

179 citations , April 2012 in “Nature Communications”

This study demonstrates the potential of using bioengineered follicles from adult tissue-derived stem cells for fully functional hair regeneration, illustrating possible applications in organ replacement therapy.

research Prostaglandin D2 Inhibits Hair Growth and Is Elevated in Bald Scalp of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

205 citations , March 2012 in “Science Translational Medicine”

PGD2 stops hair growth and is higher in bald men with AGA.

research Reprogramming of Human Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

26 citations , February 2012 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study found that dermal papilla cells from human hair follicles can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells, but their efficiency is similar to that of fibroblasts, unlike in mice.

research TCF/Lef1 Activity Controls Establishment of Diverse Stem and Progenitor Cell Compartments in Mouse Epidermis

91 citations , June 2011 in “The EMBO Journal”

This study demonstrates that hair follicle bulge stem cells can transition into other stem cell compartments, indicating their role in maintaining both hair follicles and sebaceous glands.

research Nerve-Derived Sonic Hedgehog Defines a Niche for Hair Follicle Stem Cells Capable of Becoming Epidermal Stem Cells

396 citations , May 2011 in “Cell stem cell”

This study found that Shh from neurons signals to Gli1-expressing cells in the hair follicle, cultivating a niche where these bulge cells can potentially transform into epidermal stem cells in wound healing.

Bald Scalp in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia Retains Hair Follicle Stem Cells but Lacks CD200-Rich and CD34-Positive Hair Follicle Progenitor Cells

research Bald Scalp in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia Retains Hair Follicle Stem Cells but Lacks CD200-Rich and CD34-Positive Hair Follicle Progenitor Cells

235 citations , January 2011 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation”

This study found that androgenetic alopecia may involve a defect in the conversion of hair follicle stem cells to progenitor cells, as demonstrated by a reduced presence of progenitor cells in bald scalp samples.

research Lrig1 Expression Defines a Distinct Multipotent Stem Cell Population in Mammalian Epidermis

503 citations , May 2009 in “Cell stem cell”

This study suggests that Lrig1-positive cells form a previously unknown reservoir of interfollicular epidermal stem cells in adult mouse skin, influencing epidermal proliferation and hair follicle development.

research Lgr5 Marks Cycling, Yet Long-Lived, Hair Follicle Stem Cells

835 citations , October 2008 in “Nature Genetics”

Lgr5 is a marker for active, long-lasting stem cells in mouse hair follicles.

research Sic Transit Gloria: Farewell to the Epidermal Transit Amplifying Cell?

153 citations , October 2007 in “Cell Stem Cell”

New research suggests that skin cell renewal may not require a special type of cell previously thought to be essential.

research Wnt-Dependent De Novo Hair Follicle Regeneration in Adult Mouse Skin After Wounding

829 citations , May 2007 in “Nature”

Hair follicles can regrow in wounded adult mouse skin using a process like embryo development.

research Characterization and Isolation of Stem Cell-Enriched Human Hair Follicle Bulge Cells

550 citations , December 2005 in “The Journal of clinical investigation/The journal of clinical investigation”

This study found that bulge cells marked by CD200+ in human hair follicles show high colony-forming efficiency, suggesting successful enrichment of keratinocyte stem cells.

research Stem Cells in the Hair Follicle Bulge Contribute to Wound Repair but Not to Homeostasis of the Epidermis

1279 citations , November 2005 in “Nature Medicine”

research Long-Term Renewal of Hair Follicles from Clonogenic Multipotent Stem Cells

291 citations , October 2005 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America”

This study found that rat whisker follicle stem cells can be expanded in culture and transplanted to form functional hair follicles, demonstrating their multipotency and potential for regenerative medicine.

research Keratin 15 Promoter Targets Putative Epithelial Stem Cells in the Hair Follicle Bulge

387 citations , November 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

The K15 promoter effectively targets stem cells in the hair follicle bulge.

research Involvement of Follicular Stem Cells in Forming Not Only the Follicle but Also the Epidermis

1010 citations , August 2000 in “Cell”

In this study, researchers found that hair follicle stem cells in mice can generate both hair follicle and epidermis cells, highlighting their potential bipotency.

research The Biology of Hair Follicles

1113 citations , August 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

This article discusses the biologic and psychosocial significance of hair, the current limitations in hair growth drugs, and anticipates future therapies based on advancing hair follicle research.

Cells Within the Bulge Region of Mouse Hair Follicle Transiently Proliferate During Early Anagen: Heterogeneity and Functional Differences of Various Hair Cycles

research Cells Within the Bulge Region of Mouse Hair Follicle Transiently Proliferate During Early Anagen: Heterogeneity and Functional Differences of Various Hair Cycles

130 citations , January 1994 in “Differentiation”

In this study, researchers found that bulge cells in mouse hair follicles undergo transient proliferation during early anagen, indicating their role as follicular stem cells. However, another factor beyond dermal papilla proximity may be required to initiate a new anagen phase.