Regeneration of the injured nerve in the skin by human hair follicle stem cells

2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20790814
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Dermatology
• Research Institution: Kitasato University
• Principal Investigator: AMOH Yasuyuki Kitasato University, 医学部, 講師 (10306540)
• Project Period (FY): 2008 – 2010
• Keywords: 移植再生医療 / 再生医学 / バイオテクノロジー / 細胞・組織 / 生体機能利用

Research Abstract

We previously showed that the stem cell marker nestin is expressed in hair follicle stem cells which suggested their pluripotency. We subsequently showed that the nestin-expressing hair-follicle pluripotent stem (hfPS) cells can differentiate in culture to neurons, glial cells, keratinocytes, and other cell types and can promote regeneration of peripheral nerve and spinal cord injuries upon injection to the injured nerve or spinal cord. We certified that the direct transplantation of the uncultured upper part of the hair follicle containing the hfPSC area was an important method to promote the recovery of peripheral nerve injuries and had significant clinical potential. Furthermore, we try to make the new cultured skin with hfPS cells. The new cultured skin with hfPS cells promotes the regeneration of the injured skin.