TLDR Epidermal stem cells could lead to new treatments for skin and hair disorders.
The 2009 document reviews the characteristics, identification, and potential therapeutic applications of epidermal stem cells, particularly in relation to skin and hair disorders. It emphasizes the importance of stem cell markers like CK19, p63, CD34, CD200, Tenascin-C, Lhx2, MTS24, Bmi-1, and others in distinguishing various stem cell populations within the skin, including those responsible for hair pigmentation and immune response. The review also discusses the role of these cells in the pathogenesis of diseases such as scarring alopecias and cutaneous malignancies, suggesting that cancer stem cells may arise from mutated normal stem cells. It explores the potential of stem cells in regenerative medicine, including the generation of bioengineered hair follicles for alopecia treatment, nerve regeneration, and gene therapy for congenital disorders. The document concludes that while the search for definitive stem cell markers continues, the current markers are essential for progressing dermatological research and developing new treatments.
54 citations,
January 2009 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Scarring alopecia affects different hair follicle stem cells than nonscarring alopecia, and the infundibular region could be a new treatment target.
43 citations,
February 2008 in “Journal of cutaneous pathology” Melanocyte precursors in human fetal skin follow a specific migration pattern and some remain in the skin's deeper layers.
165 citations,
June 2007 in “European Journal of Cell Biology” Hair follicle stem cells are key for hair and skin regeneration, can be reprogrammed, and have potential therapeutic uses, but also carry a risk of cancer.
788 citations,
February 2007 in “Nature” The document concludes that skin stem cells are important for hair growth and wound healing, and could be used in regenerative medicine.
550 citations,
December 2005 in “The Journal of clinical investigation/The journal of clinical investigation” Researchers successfully isolated and identified key markers of stem cell-enriched human hair follicle bulge cells.
105 citations,
April 2005 in “Cell” Hair graying happens because certain cells aren't maintained properly.
212 citations,
August 2004 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” Hair follicle cells can create new blood vessels in the skin.
34 citations,
September 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” Gene therapy shows promise for treating hair loss by targeting hair follicles.
1113 citations,
August 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Hair follicle biology advancements may lead to better hair growth disorder treatments.
21 citations,
May 2022 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology” Hair growth and health are influenced by factors like age, environment, and nutrition, and are controlled by various molecular pathways. Red light can promote hair growth, and understanding these processes can help treat hair-related diseases.
21 citations,
May 2016 in “Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine” MMP-2 and MMP-9 help hair grow, while their inhibitors peak when hair growth slows.
17 citations,
December 2010 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Flightless I protein affects hair growth, with low levels delaying it and high levels increasing hair length in rodents.
January 2008 in “Chinese bulletin of Life sciences” Epidermal stem cells help renew skin and regenerate hair follicles.
