There And Back Again: Hair Follicle Stem Cell Dynamics

Hsu et al. (2011) investigated hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and found that early HFSC descendants could return to the bulge niche and act as primary stem cells in future hair cycles. Using lineage tracing and nucleotide pulse-chase experiments, they showed these cells survived the catagen phase and aided in hair regeneration. The study distinguished between CD34+ cells, which were true stem cells involved in regeneration and wound repair, and CD34−K6+ cells, which maintained niche quiescence. This research underscored the intrinsic stemness and dynamic behavior of HFSCs, influenced by their migratory history and local signaling environments.