TLDR Hair follicle stem cells can help treat ulcerative colitis in mice by releasing beneficial exosomes.
The study demonstrates that hair follicle-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HFMSCs) can alleviate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice by releasing exosomes (Exos) that inhibit pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death. HFMSCs reduced the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and improved cell viability, with the highest efficacy observed at a dose of 400 μg per mouse administered twice a week. The therapeutic effects are suggested to involve the TRAIL and IFN-gamma signaling pathways, highlighting HFMSCs and their Exos as a promising treatment for UC.
18 citations,
February 2022 in “Cell Death Discovery” 
11 citations,
October 2021 in “Stem Cell Research & Therapy” Hair follicle stem cells reduced hair loss and inflammation in mice with a condition similar to human alopecia.
33 citations,
April 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Damaged hair follicle stem cells can cause permanent hair loss, but understanding their role could lead to new treatments.
73 citations,
August 2011 in “Stem Cell Research” Human hair follicle stem cells can turn into multiple cell types but lose some of this ability after being grown in the lab for a long time.
13 citations,
February 2023 in “Aging” A substance from hair follicle stem cells helps heal skin wounds in diabetic mice by promoting cell growth and preventing cell death.
January 2024 in “Theranostics” Exosomes from special stem cells help treat ulcerative colitis by reducing inflammation and stress.
1 citations,
January 2024 in “Theranostics” Exosomes show promise for future tissue regeneration.
21 citations,
March 2018 in “Experimental Dermatology” The guide explains how to study human skin fat cells and their tissue, aiming to improve research and medical treatments.
31 citations,
August 2021 in “Stem Cell Research & Therapy” The conclusion is that understanding how hair follicle stem cells live or die is important for maintaining healthy tissue and repairing injuries, and could help treat hair loss, but there are still challenges to overcome.
