Transfection of Rat Dermal Papilla Cells with a Gene Encoding a Temperature-Sensitive Polyomavirus Large T Antigen Generates Cell Lines Retaining a Differentiated Phenotype

The study focused on creating a representative dermal papilla cell line to investigate hair induction. Researchers transfected rat vibrissa dermal papilla cells with a gene encoding a temperature-sensitive polyomavirus large T antigen, generating permanent cell lines that could be switched off by temperature change. These immortalized cells retained the ability to induce hair growth when implanted into rats and exhibited similar properties to early passage dermal papilla cells. The study also analyzed cytokine gene expression, finding that certain cytokines, such as epidermal growth factor, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-1a, were present in immortalized and non-hair-inducing cell lines but absent in passage 2 cells. This suggested a potential role of cytokines in hair induction, providing a valuable model for further hair growth research.