Just
a hair away from stem cell therapy
New research suggests that in the future, stem cell research
might rely on nothing more controversial than a plucked hair.
Scientists have proven that stem cells found in mouse hair follicles
can develop into brain cells and other cell types. This finding
suggests that human hair follicles might be a new and uncontroversial
source for these regenerative cells. Because stem cells can be
developed into any cell type, scientists hope to one day use them
to fight degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and heart
failure.
Lead researcher Richard Hoffman of San Diego’s AntiCancer,
Inc. research company has previously proven that the stem cells
that create hair follicles are very similar to the stem cells
that become the brain. Hoffman’s current study was able
to isolate stem cells from hair follicles and steer them toward
becoming neurons (brain cells) and muscle cells.
Using mice, researchers isolated stem cells from the so-called “bulge
area” of whisker follicles and cultured them. After one
week, those stems cells began to develop into neural cells. As
the weeks went on, the stem cells developed into skin cells, smooth
muscle cells, and skin color pigment-producing cells. According
to an article published in the March 28, 2005 edition of the Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences, these same hair follicle
stem cells matured into neurons when transplanted under the skin
of the mice.
Hoffman is hopeful that human hair follicle stem cells might
be sufficiently plastic to make other types of cells under human
direction, opening up vast areas of possibility for therapeutic
research. Citing the ease of harvesting hair follicles as opposed
to other methods, Hoffman believes his research could help eliminate
the political debate currently centered on embryonic stem cell
research.
Hoffman stresses his current research is just the beginning of
a long road. He and his team are now attempting to produce large
numbers of cells from hair stem cells for testing. The next step
will be to discover how easily the stem cells can be made coaxed
to form different types of cells.
Deryl Troyer, a professor at Kansas State University, is excited
by Hoffman’s research, noting that he provided encouraging
evidence that primitive stem cells can be found in post-natal
tissue. Though Hoffman’s work was done on mice, Troyer believes
that human hair follicles likely contain stem cells with similar
potential. If so, treatments for neurodegenerative diseases could
be treated using cells from the hair follicles of the patient,
eliminating the fear of a rejection of the cells by the patient’s
immune system.
Dr. Eva Mezey of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke is less confident, citing the substantial differences
between mouse and human hair follicles. Stating that earlier researchers
had already noted the presence of stem cells in hair follicles,
Mezey expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of Hoffman’s
paper. Even so, Mezey did express support for the possibilities
raised by Hoffman- “I do believe in plasticity, so it would
not be a surprise if these stem cells could become neural cells,
given the right environmental cues."
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