The Hair Follicle: An Important Cellular Source in Tissue Engineering
March 2014
in “
Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia
”
Studysummary This review describes the hair follicle's structure, particularly its role as a stem cell niche, and discusses its potential application in skin tissue engineering, but does not present new research findings.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The 2014 study by Porriño et al. highlighted the hair follicle as a complex microscopic organ with a variety of cell types, including stem cells. The hair follicle, particularly its bulge area, was identified as the most important niche of stem cells in the skin, with the added advantage of easy accessibility. These stem cells were found to be responsible for hair follicle regeneration each hair cycle, and could also form sebaceous glands and help in repopulation of the interfollicular epidermis after injury. The study also noted that recent research had differentiated follicle stem cells into different strains, such as nervous, hematopoietic, and vascular cells. The potential for human hair follicle regeneration was suggested to be a revolutionary development in the field of alopecia.
