Skin Equivalent Assay: An Optimized Method for Testing Hair Growth Reconstitution Capacity of Epidermal and Dermal Cells
March 2019
in “
Experimental Dermatology
”
TLDR The 3D skin model is better for hair growth research and testing treatments.
The study from March 13, 2019, developed a 3D skin equivalent assay using neonate mouse epidermal and dermal cells to regenerate hair follicles when grafted onto nude mice. The 3D assay outperformed both a 2D model and a positive control chamber assay in terms of hair follicle number, orientation, and gene expression of hair induction markers. The addition of Wnt3a to the 3D assay significantly increased hair regeneration, with the Wnt3a treated group showing 361±88 regenerated hairs compared to 255±27 in the untreated group. The study concluded that the 3D skin equivalent is a promising tool for hair regeneration research and for testing hair growth-promoting agents. The number of mice used in the 3D skin equivalent group was not specified, but control groups had 5 mice each, and the Wnt3a treatment group had 4 mice.
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Cited in this study
12 / results
research Self-Organization Process in Newborn Skin Organoid Formation Inspires Strategy to Restore Hair Regeneration of Adult Cells
Newborn mouse skin cells can grow hair and this process can be recreated in adult cells to potentially help with hair loss.
research Assembling Composite Dermal Papilla Spheres with Adipose-Derived Stem Cells to Enhance Hair Follicle Induction
Combining skin cells with fat-derived stem cells can improve hair growth.
research Wnt1a Maintains Characteristics of Dermal Papilla Cells That Induce Mouse Hair Regeneration in a 3D Preculture System
Wnt1a helps keep cells that can grow hair effective for potential hair loss treatments.
research Dermal Papilla Cells Improve Wound Healing and Generate Hair Bud-Like Structures in Grafted Skin Substitutes Using Hair Follicle Stem Cells
Dermal papilla cells help wounds heal better and can potentially grow new hair.
research Strategies to enhance epithelial–mesenchymal interactions for human hair follicle bioengineering
Improving the environment and cell interactions is key for creating human hair in the lab.
research Comparisons of mouse models for hair follicle reconstitution
The flap assay grows the most natural hair but takes the longest, the chamber assay is hard work but gives dense, normal hair, and the patch assay is quick but creates poorly oriented hair with some issues.
research The mesenchymal component of hair follicle neogenesis: background, methods and molecular characterization
The document concludes that specific cells are essential for hair growth and more research is needed to understand how to maintain their hair-inducing properties.
research Review of hair follicle dermal cells
Dermal cells are key in controlling hair growth and could potentially be used in hair loss treatments, but more research is needed to improve hair regeneration methods.
research Wnt-dependent de novo hair follicle regeneration in adult mouse skin after wounding
Hair follicles can regrow in wounded adult mouse skin using a process like embryo development.
research Bioengineering the Hair Follicle
Bioengineering can potentially treat hair loss by regenerating hair follicles and cloning hair, but the process is complex and needs more research.
research Organogenesis From Dissociated Cells: Generation of Mature Cycling Hair Follicles From Skin-Derived Cells
Scientists have found a way to create hair follicles from skin cells of newborn mice, which can grow and cycle naturally when injected into adult mouse skin.
research The Biology of Hair Follicles
Hair follicle biology advancements may lead to better hair growth disorder treatments.