Interfollicular epidermal stem-like cells for the recreation of the hair follicle epithelial compartment

Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Research

Alexandra P. Marques¹  Carla M. Abreu¹  Rogério P. Pirraco¹  Mariana T. Cerqueira¹  Rui L. Reis¹ 

[1] 3B’s Research Group – Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal;ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal;

关键词: Epidermal keratinocytes with stem-like features;    Dermal papilla cells;    Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions;    Hair follicle;    Sebaceous gland;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13287-020-02104-9

 received in 2020-09-30, accepted in 2020-12-14,  发布年份 2020

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHair follicle (HF) development and growth are dependent on epithelial-mesenchymal interactions (EMIs). Dermal papilla (DP) cells are recognized as the key inductive mesenchymal player, but the ideal source of receptive keratinocytes for human HF regeneration is yet to be defined. We herein investigated whether human interfollicular epidermal keratinocytes with stem-like features (EpSlKCs), characterized by a α6bri/CD71dim expression, can replace human hair follicular keratinocytes (HHFKCs) for the recreation of the HF epithelium and respective EMIs.MethodsThe α6bri/CD71dim cellular fraction was selected from the whole interfollicular keratinocyte population through fluorescence-activated cell sorting and directly compared with follicular keratinocytes in terms of their proliferative capacity and phenotype. The crosstalk with DP cells was studied in an indirect co-culture system, and EpSlKC hair forming capacity tested in a hair reconstitution assay when combined with DP cells.ResultsEpSlKCs exhibited a phenotypic profile similar to follicular keratinocytes and were capable of increasing DP cell proliferation and, for short co-culture times, the number of alkaline phosphatase-active cells, suggesting an improvement of their inductivity. Moreover, the recreation of immature HFs and sebaceous glands was observed after EpSlKC and DP cell co-grafting in nude mice.ConclusionsOur results suggest that EpSlKCs are akin to follicular keratinocytes and can crosstalk with DP cells, contributing to HF morphogenesis in vivo, thus representing an attractive epithelial cell source for hair regeneration strategies.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2021

【 图 表 】

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