Multimodal Imaging of Hair Follicle Bulge-Derived Stem Cells in a Mouse Model of Traumatic Brain Injury

This study investigated the potential of adult hair follicle bulge-derived stem cells (HFBSCs) for treating traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a mouse model. HFBSCs, which can differentiate into neurons and are relatively immune-privileged, were transplanted into the cortical region of nude mice 2 days post-injury. Using multimodal imaging techniques, the researchers tracked the survival and localization of these cells. The results showed that HFBSCs survived for 58 days post-transplantation, differentiated towards a neuronal lineage, and expressed markers such as nestin and neurofilament protein. These findings suggest that HFBSCs could be a viable option for cell-based therapy in TBI.