Sulfated Hyaluronan-Containing Artificial Extracellular Matrices Promote Proliferation of Keratinocytes and Melanotic Phenotype of Melanocytes from the Outer Root Sheath of Hair Follicles

March 2019 in “ Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A ”

M. Schneider, Sandra Rother, Stephanie Möller, Matthias Schnabelrauch, Dieter Scharnweber, Jan‐Christoph Simon, Vera Hintze, Vuk Savković

sulfated hyaluronan artificial extracellular matrix keratinocytes melanocytes outer root sheath hair follicles collagen CD44 receptor epidermal grafts

TLDR Sulfated hyaluronan in collagen helps hair follicle cells grow and develop better for skin grafts.

The study aimed to improve cultivation conditions for human keratinocytes (HUKORS) and melanocytes (HUMORS) from the outer root sheath of human hair follicles to generate epidermal grafts. Researchers used artificial extracellular matrix coatings made of collagen and hyaluronan with varying sulfation degrees. The results indicated that these matrices, particularly those with high-sulfated hyaluronan, provided a favorable environment for keratinocyte proliferation and enhanced the melanotic phenotype in melanocytes. This was evidenced by increased gene expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and other melanotic genes. The study suggested that sulfated hyaluronan might enhance the melanotic phenotype by binding to the CD44 receptor or concentrating signaling mediators. These findings highlighted the potential of collagen matrices with sulfated hyaluronan to significantly improve the development of outer root sheath-based epidermal grafts.