Horse Hair Follicles: A Novel Dermal Stem Cell Source for Equine Regenerative Medicine

The study investigated the potential of horse hair follicles as a source of dermal stem cells for equine regenerative medicine, involving 21 skin samples from adult horses. Researchers focused on the dermal papilla (DP) and dermal sheath (DS) cells, using immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical analyses to evaluate lineage markers. They successfully cultured cells from equine hair follicles, confirming their derivation from the DP with markers like α-SMA, versican, laminin, and vimentin, and ensuring purity by confirming the absence of epithelial cells. The study highlighted the expression of stem cell-associated markers such as nestin and Sox2, suggesting that equine hair follicles could be a valuable source of stem cells for therapeutic purposes. However, CD133 did not react with equine tissue, indicating the need for a suitable marker for horses. Future research was recommended to explore the trichogenicity of these cells for potential applications in equine dermatology.