The Dermal Papilla: An Instructive Niche for Epithelial Stem and Progenitor Cells in Development and Regeneration of the Hair Follicle

July 2014 in “ Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine ”

Bruce Morgan

Studysummary This article provides contact information for Bruce A. Morgan and features no new research findings. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The document from 2014 examines the dermal papilla (DP)'s critical role in hair follicle development and regeneration, emphasizing its interaction with epithelial stem and progenitor cells. The DP provides a niche for these cells, influencing hair shaft characteristics, the frequency of hair follicle regeneration, and the transition between hair cycle phases. The size of the DP, which is dynamic and actively regulated, correlates with hair size, and a reduction in DP cell number can lead to hair thinning and loss. The document also discusses the potential of DP cells in hair follicle transplantation and the possibility of inducing new hair follicles through cell-based therapies or by enhancing signals that recruit or maintain endogenous cells in thinning scalp. It concludes by highlighting the importance of understanding DP cell specification and maintenance mechanisms for developing novel approaches to prevent hair loss or repair declining follicles.

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