Transdifferentiation of Human Hair Follicle Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Red Blood Cells by OCT4

The study demonstrated that human hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells (hHFMSCs) could be transdifferentiated into mature, enucleated red blood cells (RBCs) by enforcing the expression of the transcription factor OCT4 and treating with hematopoietic cytokines. The resulting RBCs expressed both fetal and adult hemoglobin chains and underwent multiple maturation events, indicating their potential as a source for patient-specific transfusions. This novel approach suggested that hHFMSCs could serve as an alternative source for generating RBCs, offering significant implications for regenerative medicine and blood transfusion therapies.