The advantages of hair follicle pluripotent stem cells over embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells for regenerative medicine

The document from 2010 discusses the advantages of using hair follicle pluripotent stem cells (hfPS cells) for regenerative medicine, particularly for nerve repair. These cells, found in the hair follicle pluripotent stem cell area (hfPSCA), can differentiate into various cell types such as neurons, glia, and Schwann cells, and express the neural stem cell marker nestin. The study shows that hfPS cells can enhance nerve regeneration and functional recovery in mouse models of peripheral nerve injury, with the cells differentiating mainly into Schwann cells. The document also describes a method for isolating and culturing these cells from human hair follicles, which can form "hair spheres" and differentiate into multiple cell types. The use of hfPS cells is presented as a practical and ethically favorable alternative to embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, with the potential to serve as an accessible and autologous source for regenerative therapies. The number of subjects involved in the study is not mentioned.