TLDR Hair stem cells produce a protein called COL17A1 that plays a key role in their development and is linked to hair thinning and baldness.
The 2019 study demonstrated that hair-follicle-associated pluripotent (HAP) stem cells, which reside in the upper part of the hair follicle, co-express nestin and type-XVII collagen (COL17A1). The expression of HAP stem cell markers (nestin and SSEA1) increased after HAP stem-cell colonies were formed, then decreased after differentiation to epidermal keratinocytes. In contrast, COL17A1 increased after differentiation to epidermal keratinocytes. This suggests that COL17A1 plays a significant role in the differentiation of HAP stem cells. The study also noted that the DNA-damage response in non-HAP hair follicle stem cells induces proteolysis of COL17A1, which is involved in hair-follicle stem-cell maintenance and is associated with hair-follicle miniaturization and androgenic alopecia.
6 citations,
July 2016 in “Cell cycle/Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex. Online)” Younger mice's hair-follicle stem cells are better at turning into heart cells than older mice's.
29 citations,
March 2016 in “Cell cycle/Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex. Online)” Isoproterenol helps hair follicle stem cells turn into beating heart muscle cells.
242 citations,
February 2016 in “Science” Hair loss and aging are caused by the breakdown of a key protein in hair stem cells.
949 citations,
January 2001 in “Cell” Adult mouse skin contains stem cells that can create new hair, skin, and oil glands.
11 citations,
June 2019 in “Tissue & Cell” Hair stem cells produce a protein called COL17A1 that plays a key role in their development and is linked to hair thinning and baldness.
33 citations,
October 2013 in “PloS one” Human sweat glands have a type of stem cell that can grow well and turn into different cell types.
34 citations,
June 2008 in “In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Animal” Scientists created a long-lasting stem cell line from human hair that can turn into different skin and hair cell types.
1 citations,
January 2008 in “Springer eBooks” Hair follicle stem cells can turn into many cell types and may help repair nerve damage and have other medical uses.
50 citations,
February 2007 in “Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy” Hair follicle stem cells could help repair nerves and avoid ethical issues linked to embryonic stem cells.
