Hair Follicle Stem Cells: A New Arena

The document discusses the role of hair follicle stem cells (SCs) in the maintenance and regeneration of hair, as well as their potential therapeutic applications. It highlights the importance of various signaling pathways and genes, such as WNT/beta-catenin, Lgr6, Sox9, and Lhx2, in the development and functioning of hair follicle SCs. The paper also notes that hair follicle SCs are essential for the regulation of melanocyte SCs and that collagen XVII is required for their maintenance. It mentions that hair follicle SCs can lose their stemness when they proliferate, but they still retain many SC markers. Additionally, the document reports on the successful use of hair follicle bulge-derived SCs for ocular surface reconstruction in cases of bilateral limbal SC deficiency. The paper concludes by emphasizing the significant potential of hair follicle SCs in treating a wide range of disorders.