Faculty Opinions Recommendation of Live Imaging of Stem Cell and Progeny Behavior in Physiological Hair-Follicle Regeneration

In 2012, Rompolas P et al. conducted a study to understand the behavior of stem cells and their progeny during hair follicle (HF) regeneration. They used a novel, non-invasive, intravital two-photon imaging technique to record these behaviors in live mice. The researchers also used laser-induced cell ablation to assess the role of the dermal papilla (DP), a specialized component at the base of the HF, in regulating the behavior of HF stem cells and their progeny. They found that at the early stage of HF regeneration, mitotic activities were mostly observed in the lower part of the HF, where the progeny resides, and less frequently in the bulge stem cells. They also found that the HF undergoes major structural reorganization by morphological rearrangement in addition to cell division. The study concluded that the DP is indispensable for HF regrowth. This technique developed in the study could provide a valuable tool to further dissect dynamic cell behaviors maintaining HF homeostasis.