Dermal Papilla Regulation of Hair Growth and Pigmentation

The document from 2019 explores the critical role of dermal papilla (DP) cells in hair growth and pigmentation, emphasizing their function as a signaling hub throughout the hair follicle cycle. It underscores the importance of the interaction between DP cells and stem cells for hair follicle morphogenesis and regeneration, with a focus on the Wnt and BMP signaling pathways. The paper reveals that DP cell numbers are influential in determining hair type and size and that DP cells exhibit heterogeneity, which may lead to the formation of microniches with distinct roles in hair follicle development. The document also discusses the interaction between DP cells and melanocyte stem cells (MSCs) for hair pigmentation, detailing the melanogenesis pathway and the factors influencing melanocyte behavior. It suggests that understanding DP cell dynamics and their cross-signaling with melanocytes could offer new avenues for treating hair pigmentation disorders and hair loss, with 3D spheroid cultures and enriched media being potential methods for maintaining DP hair induction capacity in vitro.