Generation of iPS-Derived Model Cells for Analyses of Hair Shaft Differentiation
September 2017
in “
Biotechniques/BioTechniques
”
induced pluripotent stem cells hair shaft differentiation bone morphogenic protein-4 BMP4 luciferase reporter gene keratin 31 krt31 retinoic acid RA doxycycline Dox trichogenic activity dermal papilla cells DPCs hair-specific markers hair follicle development iPS cells hair growth keratin hair growth-promoting compounds hair follicles
TLDR Researchers created a mouse cell line to study hair growth and test hair growth drugs.
Researchers developed a reliable model cell line using mouse induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to study hair shaft differentiation. These cells were engineered to express bone morphogenic protein-4 (BMP4) and a luciferase reporter gene under the control of the hair-specific keratin 31 (krt31) promoter. Upon treatment with retinoic acid (RA) and doxycycline (Dox), the cells differentiated into hair components, mimicking in vivo hair follicle development. The model allowed for the detection of trichogenic activity, as factors from dermal papilla cells (DPCs) significantly increased the expression of hair-specific markers. This system provided a cost-effective and efficient method for screening potential hair growth-promoting compounds.
