Generation And Characterization Of Hair-Bearing Skin Organoids From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Researchers have developed a protocol to generate hair-bearing skin tissue from human pluripotent stem cells in a 3D in vitro culture system. Over 2 weeks, these stem cells differentiate into surface ectoderm and cranial neural crest cells, forming the epidermis and dermis. After 60 days, hair follicles appear, and by 130 days, the organoids exhibit full complexity, including stratified skin layers, pigmented hair follicles, sebaceous glands, Merkel cells, and sensory neurons, mimicking fetal skin at 18 weeks of gestation. These organoids can be cultured for up to 150 days, offering a model for studying skin biology, disease, and potential skin tissue regeneration.