Nestin Expression in Hair Follicle Sheath Progenitor Cells

The study explored nestin expression in hair follicle sheath progenitor cells using nestin-GFP transgenic mice, revealing that nestin-expressing cells were located in the hair follicle bulge area, particularly during the early anagen phase. These cells were identified as progenitors of the outer-root sheath, characterized by their small, oval shape and interconnection through short dendrites. The research demonstrated colocalization of nestin with GFP, keratin 5/8, and keratin 15 in hair follicle bulge cells, outer-root sheath cells, and basal cells of sebaceous glands. The findings suggested a potential link between neural stem cells and hair follicle stem cells, indicating that nestin-expressing cells might act as stem cells for the entire hair follicle.