Multipotent nestin-positive, keratin-negative hair-follicle bulge stem cells can form neurons

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Apr 12;102(15):5530-4. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0501263102. Epub 2005 Mar 31.

Abstract

We have recently shown that the expression of nestin, the neural stem cell marker protein, is expressed in bulge-area stem cells of the hair follicle. We used transgenic mice with GFP expression driven by the nestin regulatory element [nestin-driven GFP (ND-GFP)]. The ND-GFP stem cells give rise to the outer-root sheath of the hair follicle as well as an ND-GFP interfollicular vascular network. In this study, we demonstrate that ND-GFP stem cells isolated from the hair-follicle bulge area that are negative for the keratinocyte marker keratin 15 can differentiate into neurons, glia, keratinocytes, smooth muscle cells, and melanocytes in vitro. These pluripotent ND-GFP stem cells are positive for the stem cell marker CD34, as well as keratin 15-negative, suggesting their relatively undifferentiated state. The apparent primitive state of the ND-GFP stem cells is compatible with their pluripotency. Furthermore, we show that cells derived from ND-GFP stem cells can differentiate into neurons after transplantation to the subcutis of nude mice. These results suggest that hair-follicle bulge-area ND-GFP stem cells may provide an accessible, autologous source of undifferentiated multipotent stem cells for therapeutic application.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Transplantation
  • Hair Follicle / cytology*
  • Hair Follicle / metabolism
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins / analysis*
  • Keratins / analysis*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / transplantation
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / analysis*
  • Nestin
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / metabolism

Substances

  • Intermediate Filament Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nes protein, mouse
  • Nestin
  • Keratins