Skin construction by hair follicle stem cells and fibroblasts

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method of constructing skin-equivalents (SE) by the hair follicle stem cells (HFSC) and the fibroblasts. METHODS: The K19 immunostaining was employed to localize the HFSC in the human scalp from the cosmetic surgery. The isolated HFSC through the enzyme digestion were seeded on the dermal equivalent (DE) formed by polymerization of the fibroblasts and collagen. After being cultured between the air-liquid interface for 14 days, SE were harvested and used for an evaluation. RESULTS: HFSC were located mainly in the outer root sheath in the hair follicle. Based on DE, the growing HFSC could build a fully-developed and multi-layered epidermis with the basal membrane formed between the epidermis and the dermis. The fibroblasts were active and spread evenly in the collagen matrix. CONCLUSION: The hair follicle stem cells located in the outer root sheath can be successfully used to construct skin-equivalents in vitro and have a promising clinical use in the treatment.