GMP-Compliant Culture of Human Hair Follicle Cells for Encapsulation and Transplantation

In the 2012 study, researchers successfully cultured human hair follicle cells, specifically bulge and dermal papilla cells, under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) conditions, aiming to create a new treatment for alopecia through regenerative cell therapy. The cells showed high proliferation rates and the ability to produce extracellular matrix. Immunofluorescence confirmed the presence of stem cell markers, indicating the preservation of stem cell characteristics after in vitro expansion. The cells were able to organize into structures resembling hair follicles when placed in the dermis, suggesting their potential for tissue regeneration and hair follicle bioengineering. This study, supported by Pavia and Milan Universities among others, is the first to establish a method for producing bioengineered hair follicles in a GMP cell factory, which could lead to innovative treatments for alopecia. However, the study did not specify the number of people involved, and further research is needed to understand the regenerative capacity of different skin compartments for new hair follicle formation.