TLDR Human liver cells stick to hair protein materials mainly through the liver's asialoglycoprotein receptor.
The study aimed to understand how human hair keratin-based biomaterials promote cell adhesion, using hepatocytes as a model due to their known adhesion mechanisms and strong attachment to keratin. The research focused on the involvement of β(1)- and β(2)-integrins and the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) in this process. Results showed that blocking integrin subunits did not reduce hepatocyte attachment to keratin, and keratin adhesion did not lead to the formation of focal complexes or adhesions, nor did it increase phosphorylated-focal adhesion kinase levels. However, when ASGPR was inhibited, hepatocyte attachment to keratin decreased, suggesting that ASGPR plays a significant role in the adhesion of hepatocytes to keratin biomaterials.
177 citations
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April 2008 in “Biomedical Materials” Human hair proteins can be used to create scaffolds that support cell growth for tissue engineering.
309 citations
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October 2007 in “Biomaterials” Keratin from human hair helps nerves heal faster.
7 citations
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November 2006 in “Journal of immunological methods” The method can help diagnose and monitor diabetes by analyzing hair.
5 citations
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October 1988 in “Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice” 6 citations
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January 1988 in “Japanese Journal of Medicine” Hair glycation levels can indicate long-term blood sugar control.
Keratin hydrogels from human hair show promise for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
75 citations
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September 2015 in “Acta biomaterialia” Alkylation of human hair keratin allows for adjustable drug release rates in hydrogels for medical use.
38 citations
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November 2020 in “International journal of biochemistry & cell biology” Keratin proteins are essential for keeping the cells in the human colon healthy and stable.
June 2023 in “Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology” The conclusion is that accurately replicating the complexity of the extracellular matrix in the lab is crucial for creating realistic human tissue models.
488 citations
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July 2021 in “Cell” Fibroblasts are crucial for tissue repair and inflammation, and understanding them can help treat fibrotic diseases.
