Telocytes Are a Critical Source of Wnts Essential for Hair Follicle Regeneration

The study "Telocytes are a critical source of Wnts essential for hair follicle regeneration" demonstrates that telocytes, unique interstitial cells with long cytoplasmic extensions, are crucial Wnt-producing cells in the hair follicle. These cells form a continuous network around stem cells and their progeny, compartmentalizing the production of mRNA molecules that encode important signaling factors. The study used two independent mouse models to show that the removal of either dermal telocytes or the Wnt signals they produce results in the failure of hair follicle regeneration. This suggests that telocytes and their production of Wnt are vital for adult stem cell biology and tissue regeneration.