In Vitro Differentiation of Hair-Follicle Bulge Stem Cells Into Synaptophysin-Expressing Neurons: A Potential New Approach for Neuro-Regeneration

November 2024 in “ Human Cell ”

Mohamad Mahjoor, Maliheh Nobakht, Fatemehsadat Ataei Kachouei, Hamidreza Zalpoor, Fatemeh Heidari, Abazar Yari, Sanaz Joulai Veijouye, Hojjatollah Nazari, Nayereh Sajedi

hair follicle stem cells retinoic acid epidermal growth factor synaptophysin βIII tubulin NeuN HFSCs RA EGF

TLDR Hair follicle stem cells can be turned into neuron-like cells, offering a new way for brain repair.

This study investigates the potential of bulge hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) for neuro-regeneration by differentiating them into neurons using retinoic acid (RA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). The researchers successfully induced HFSCs from rat whisker follicles to express synaptophysin, a marker of mature neurons, although this also led to decreased expression of other neural markers like βIII tubulin and NeuN. The results suggest that RA and EGF can promote HFSC differentiation into synaptophysin-positive cells in vitro, indicating a promising new approach for neuro-regenerative therapies and highlighting the versatility of hair-follicle stem cells in regenerative medicine.

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Research cited in this study

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research A Potential Differentiation of Adipose and Hair Follicle-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Generate Neurons Induced with EGF, FGF, PDGF, and Forskolin

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research Hair Follicle Stem Cells: In Vitro and In Vivo Neural Differentiation

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research In Vitro Neural Differentiation of CD34+ Stem Cell Populations in Hair Follicles by Three Different Neural Induction Protocols

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research Evaluation of the Effect of NT-3 and Biodegradable Poly-L-Lactic Acid Nanofiber Scaffolds on Differentiation of Rat Hair Follicle Stem Cells into Neural Cells In Vitro

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research Nestin-Positive Hair Follicle Pluripotent Stem Cells Can Promote Regeneration of Impinged Peripheral Nerve Injury

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research Bulge Cells of Rat Hair Follicles: Isolation, Cultivation, Morphological and Biological Features

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Rat hair follicle bulge cells can become nerve and glial cells, showing potential for neuroprotection.

research Multipotent Nestin-Positive, Keratin-Negative Hair-Follicle Bulge Stem Cells Can Form Neurons

419 citations , March 2005 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”

Hair-follicle stem cells can become neurons.

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