Unlocking the Vital Role of Host Cells in Hair Follicle Reconstruction by Semi-Permeable Capsules

In 2017, a study was conducted to understand the role of host cells in hair follicle reconstruction. The researchers encapsulated dermal and epidermal cells in semi-permeable capsules and observed their behavior both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the cells formed spheroids but did not differentiate into hair follicles. When transplanted into mice, the encapsulated cells formed structures similar to immature hair follicles but did not mature into full hair follicles. However, when the spheroids were removed from the capsules and transplanted into mice, about 70%-80% developed into mature hair follicles. The study concluded that host cells play a vital role in the maturation of reconstructed hair follicles, suggesting that the interaction between host and transplanted cells is crucial for hair follicle reconstruction.