Implanted hair follicle stem cells form Schwann cells that support repair of severed peripheral nerves

The study demonstrated that hair follicle stem cells, marked by nestin-driven GFP, could differentiate into Schwann cells and support the repair of severed peripheral nerves in mice. These pluripotent stem cells, positive for CD34 and negative for keratin 15, were shown to enhance nerve regeneration and restore function when implanted into the gap of a severed sciatic nerve. The successful recovery of nerve function was evidenced by the restoration of normal walking ability in mice, as measured by muscle contraction and walking print analysis. This suggested that hair follicle stem cells could serve as an accessible and autologous source for regenerative medicine.