Multipotent Nestin-Expressing Hair Follicle Stem Cells

In 2009, researchers found that hair follicle stem cells expressing nestin and CD34 are multipotent, capable of differentiating into a variety of cell types such as neurons, glia, keratinocytes, smooth muscle cells, and melanocytes. These cells do not express keratin 15, confirming their undifferentiated state. In vivo experiments showed that when these stem cells were transplanted into nude mice with severed sciatic or tibial nerves, they promoted nerve regeneration and functional recovery, often becoming Schwann cells. This study suggests that hair follicle stem cells could be a viable and ethical source of autologous stem cells for peripheral nerve injury treatment and have potential applications in regenerative medicine. The document does not provide the number of subjects used in the study.