Hair follicle stem cells: Walking the maze
July 2007
in “European Journal of Cell Biology”
TLDR Hair follicle stem cells are key for hair and skin regeneration, can be reprogrammed, and have potential therapeutic uses, but also carry a risk of cancer.
In 2007, a study titled "Hair follicle stem cells: Walking the maze" investigated the role and potential of epithelial stem cells (eSCs) in the bulge region of hair follicles in mice and humans. The researchers found that these eSCs are crucial for the cyclic regeneration of the anagen hair bulb, sebaceous gland, and the epidermis after injury. They also identified other stem cell populations in or near the hair follicle epithelium, including melanocyte stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells. The study suggested that hair follicle stem cells could be reprogrammed and dedifferentiated in vitro, and develop a wider range of differentiation potential after wounding or trauma. The researchers also highlighted the potential therapeutic applications of these findings, such as the use of autologous hair follicle stem cells for treating burn victims, promoting the healing of chronic leg ulcers, generating new human hair follicles, and for gene therapy strategies. However, the study also noted the potential risk of cancer development due to the self-renewing nature of stem cells.
View this study on doi.org →
Cited in this study
research Scratching the surface of skin development
The document concludes that skin stem cells are important for hair growth and wound healing, and could be used in regenerative medicine.
research Gene expression profiling gets to the root of human hair follicle stem cells
Human hair follicle stem cells can be isolated using specific markers for potential therapeutic use.
research Characterization and isolation of stem cell-enriched human hair follicle bulge cells
Researchers successfully isolated and identified key markers of stem cell-enriched human hair follicle bulge cells.
research Hair growth inhibition by psychoemotional stress: a mouse model for neural mechanisms in hair growth control
Stress can stop hair growth in mice, and treatments can reverse this effect.
research A Guide to Assessing Damage Response Pathways of the Hair Follicle: Lessons From Cyclophosphamide-Induced Alopecia in Mice
The document concludes that assessing hair follicle damage due to cyclophosphamide in mice involves analyzing structural changes and suggests a scoring system for standardized evaluation.
research Defining the impact of β-catenin/Tcf transactivation on epithelial stem cells
β-catenin is essential for stem cell activation and proliferation in hair follicles.
research Organogenesis From Dissociated Cells: Generation of Mature Cycling Hair Follicles From Skin-Derived Cells
Scientists have found a way to create hair follicles from skin cells of newborn mice, which can grow and cycle naturally when injected into adult mouse skin.
research Melanocyte Stem Cell Maintenance and Hair Graying
research Molecular principles of hair follicle induction and morphogenesis
Hair follicle development is controlled by interactions between skin tissues and specific molecular signals.
research Hair Follicle Pigmentation
research Transformation of amnion epithelium into skin and hair follicles
Mouse amnion can turn into skin and hair follicles with help from certain cells and factors.
research Plasticity and Cytokinetic Dynamics of the Hair Follicle Mesenchyme During the Hair Growth Cycle: Implications for Growth Control and Hair Follicle Transformations
research Control of hair growth and follicle size by VEGF-mediated angiogenesis
VEGF helps hair grow and determines follicle size by increasing blood vessel growth.
research Morphogenesis and Renewal of Hair Follicles from Adult Multipotent Stem Cells
Adult mouse skin contains stem cells that can create new hair, skin, and oil glands.
research Involvement of Follicular Stem Cells in Forming Not Only the Follicle but Also the Epidermis
research The Biology of Hair Follicles
Hair follicle biology advancements may lead to better hair growth disorder treatments.
research Do Hair Bulb Melanocytes Undergo Apotosis During Hair Follicle Regression (Catagen)?
research Neural Mechanisms of Hair Growth Control
Nerves and chemicals in the body can affect hair growth and loss.
Related
research Epithelial-Mesenchymal Interaction in Hair Regeneration and Skin Wound Healing
Hair and skin healing involve complex cell interactions controlled by specific molecules and pathways, and hair follicle cells can help repair skin wounds.
research Control of hair follicle cell fate by underlying mesenchyme through a CSL–Wnt5a–FoxN1 regulatory axis
Notch/CSL signaling controls hair follicle differentiation through Wnt5a and FoxN1.