Single Cell Analysis of Transcriptome and Open Chromatin Reveals the Dynamics of Hair Follicle Stem Cell Aging

This study used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) and single-cell ATAC sequencing (scATACseq) to analyze the aging process of hair follicle stem cells (HF-SCs) in mice from P28 to 24 months. The researchers found that aging HF-SCs exhibit reduced open chromatin regions, indicating compromised differentiation potential, and increased regions associated with prolonged quiescence. They also identified a unique migratory niche (migNiche) population and observed that niche cells accumulate gene expressions associated with cellular stress as they age. The study highlights the importance of the microenvironment in HF-SC aging and suggests potential targets for future research into hair follicle aging and therapeutic interventions.