Multipotent Neural Crest Stem Cell-Like Cells from Rat Vibrissa Dermal Papilla Induce Neuronal Differentiation of PC12 Cells

In a study from 2014, researchers investigated the potential of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) from rat vibrissae as a treatment for central nervous system (CNS) injuries and diseases. These DPCs were found to express neural crest stem cell markers and could differentiate into various cell types, including neurons. When cocultured with PC12 cells, a type of rat pheochromocytoma cell line, the DPC-conditioned medium induced neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth. The DPCs secreted higher levels of neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) compared to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Particularly, sphere-forming DPCs showed even higher levels of Nestin and P75 expression and GDNF secretion. These findings suggest that DPCs from craniofacial hair follicle papilla could be a promising new source for CNS injury and disease treatment.