RIKEN establishes hair follicle stem cell culture method that leads to hair regeneration
RIKEN
Life Function Science Research Center
Organ Guidance Research Team
On February 10, “a method for culturing hair follicle stem cells while maintaining the regenerative ability of hair follicles (organs that make hair)” was established.
It also clarifies “stem cells required for long-term and periodic hair follicle regeneration.”
What are hair follicle epithelial stem cells?
There are multiple epithelial stem cells in the hair follicle.
It is the only organ in mammals that regenerates throughout its life.
In the case of humans, hair regenerates by repeating involution and regeneration every 5 to 7 years.
However, the mechanism for achieving periodic hair follicle regeneration was unknown.
Application to hair regrowth:
The results of this research can contribute to the study of stem cell biology and developmental biology.
A large amount of regenerated hair follicles can be artificially manufactured from a small amount of hair follicles.
In the future, it can be expected to be applied to hair regeneration technology.
(Impress Watch) –Yahoo! News
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/843796587c4f966dc52bfebf3d87867412429e52
Amplification and identification of epithelial stem cells that enable periodic hair follicle regeneration
RIKEN (RIKEN)
Life Function Science Research Center Organ Induction Research Team
Joint research group
Established a culture method that amplifies hair follicle stem cells 100 times or more in vitro while maintaining hair follicle regeneration ability.
We also clarified the stem cell population required for long-term periodic hair follicle regeneration.
RIKEN
https://www.riken.jp/press/2021/20210210_3/
Momentum for hair regrowth by “hair follicle” culture | NHK Kansai News
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/kansai-news/20210210/2000041135.html
Will you have more hair? Joint research on hair regenerative medicine by RIKEN and Kyocera –ITmedia
https://www.itmedia.co.jp/business/articles/1607/13/news123.html
A recipe for cyclical regeneration of bioengineered hair
Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research in Japan
have discovered a recipe for continuous cyclical regeneration of cultured hair follicles from hair follicle stem cells.
Scientists
have been making waves in recent years by developing ways to grow a variety of useful items in laboratories, from meat and diamonds to retinas and other organoids.
At the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research in Japan,
a team led by Takashi Tsuji
has been working on ways to regenerate lost hair from stem cells.
In an important step, a new study
identifies a critical population of hair follicle stem cells in the skin and a recipe for normal cyclical hair regeneration in the lab.
The researchers took fur and whisker cells from mice and cultured them in the laboratory with other biological “ingredients”.
They used 220 combinations of ingredients, and found that
combining a type of collagen with five factors — the NFFSE medium — led to the highest rate of stem cell amplification in the shortest period of time.
Hair growth in mammals
is a continuous cyclical process in which hair grows, falls out, and is grown again.
Growth occurs in the anagen phase and hair falls out in the telogen phase.
Thus, a successful hair-regeneration treatment must produce hair that recycles.
To test whether stem cells cultured in the NFFSE medium produce hair that cycles, the researchers
placed bioengineered hair follicle stem cells in NFFSE medium or in medium missing one of the ingredients and observed the regenerated hair for several weeks.
They found 81% of hair follicles generated in NFFSE medium went through at least three hair cycles and produced normal hair.
In contrast, 79% of follicles grown in the other medium produced only one hair cycle.
RIKEN
https://www.riken.jp/en/news_pubs/research_news/pr/2021/20210210_3/index.html