TLDR Mouse hair follicle cells can become heart-like cells without genetic changes.
In this study, researchers demonstrated that hair follicle cells from mice could be induced to differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells in vitro. By culturing these cells on OP9 feeder cells in a specific medium with vascular endothelial growth factors, the cells expressed cardiac-specific markers and exhibited a morphology and spontaneous beating similar to cardiac muscles. Importantly, this differentiation occurred without genetic modification, highlighting the potential for clinical applications in tissue and organ regeneration using stem cells.
64 citations
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May 2015 in “Cell Cycle” Hair follicle stem cells can become heart muscle cells.
419 citations
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March 2005 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” Hair-follicle stem cells can become neurons.
212 citations
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August 2004 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” Hair follicle cells can create new blood vessels in the skin.
352 citations
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August 2003 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” Nestin is found in hair follicle progenitor cells, linking them to neural stem cells.
520 citations
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February 2001 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation” VEGF helps hair grow and determines follicle size by increasing blood vessel growth.
949 citations
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January 2001 in “Cell” Adult mouse skin contains stem cells that can create new hair, skin, and oil glands.
1010 citations
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August 2000 in “Cell” Hair follicle stem cells can form both hair follicles and skin.
15 citations
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September 2007 in “Cell & tissue research/Cell and tissue research” Embryonic and adult stem cells are valuable for improving skin grafts and cell therapy.
