Multipotent nestin-expressing stem cells capable of forming neurons are located in the upper, middle and lower part of the vibrissa hair follicle

This study investigates the presence and differentiation potential of nestin-expressing stem cells in different parts of mouse vibrissa hair follicles. The researchers cultured cells from the upper, middle, and lower parts of the hair follicle and observed their ability to form spheres and differentiate into various cell types. The study found that nestin-expressing cells are present throughout the hair follicle and can differentiate into neurons, glia, keratinocytes, smooth muscle cells, and melanocytes. The upper part of the follicle was found to be particularly enriched in these stem cells and produced a greater number of neurons. These findings suggest that the upper part of the hair follicle is a promising source of multipotent stem cells that could be used for nerve and spinal cord repair. The nestin-expressing cells have the potential as an alternative to the use of embryonal stem cells or iPS cells for regenerative medicine.

• 1
  Nestin-expressing cells are located in all regions of the hair follicle (upper, middle, and lower parts of the vibrissa follicle).
• 2
  Cells from all three regions can form spheres in culture, indicating their ability to proliferate and self-renew.
• 3
  The upper part of the vibrissa follicle is enriched in nestin-expressing cells that can differentiate into neurons, and it produces a significantly higher number of neurons compared to the middle and lower parts.