TLDR The study showed that hair follicle stem cells can maintain and organize themselves in a lab setting, keeping their ability to renew and form hair and skin.
The study from 2016 established an in vitro 3D culture system, referred to as 3C, that allowed for the expansion and long-term maintenance of murine hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). This system enabled the observation of HFSCs self-organizing into a dynamic equilibrium with their progeny, demonstrating bidirectional interconversion between stem cells and non-stem cells. The cultured HFSCs retained their self-renewal capacity and multipotency, as evidenced by their ability to form colonies and reconstitute hair and epidermis in vivo. Transcriptome analysis confirmed that the 3C cultured cells closely resembled in vivo HFSCs. The study also found that specific signaling pathways, such as Shh and BMP, were crucial in mediating the transitions between HFSCs and their progeny, affecting the population dynamics within the culture. The findings have implications for understanding stem cell biology and potential therapeutic applications. The study involved RNA sequencing with 3 to 5 biological replicates and skin reconstitution assays with 4 mice per condition, and mathematical modeling was used to support the conclusions.
321 citations,
March 2015 in “Nature” Super-enhancers controlled by pioneer factors like SOX9 are crucial for stem cell adaptability and identity.
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August 2014 in “Nature Medicine” Skin stem cells interacting with their environment is crucial for maintaining and regenerating skin and hair, and understanding this can help develop new treatments for skin and hair disorders.
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July 2014 in “Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine” The dermal papilla is crucial for hair growth and health, and understanding it could lead to new hair loss treatments.
479 citations,
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42 citations,
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191 citations,
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11 citations,
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1 citations,
February 2023 in “ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering” The new microwell device helps grow more hair stem cells that can regenerate hair.
August 2023 in “Military Medical Research” Scientists have improved 3D models of human skin for research and medical uses, but still face challenges in perfectly replicating real skin.
51 citations,
September 2020 in “Cell Metabolism” Glutamine metabolism affects hair stem cell maintenance and their ability to change back to stem cells.
November 2022 in “Regenerative Therapy” Advancements in tissue engineering show promise for hair follicle regeneration to treat hair loss.
23 citations,
June 2016 in “FEBS Journal” Boosting β-catenin signaling in certain skin cells can enhance hair growth.
