title: Isolation and in vitro expansion of Lgr6-positive multipotent hair follicle stem cells.
abstract: Hair follicles (HFs) are a well-known niche of multipotent stem cells. Recently, HF cells expressing leucine-rich orphan G protein-coupled receptors (Lgr) have been described as multipotent adult stem cells with a high potential for regenerative therapies. We have now established the conditions for the isolation and long-term expansion of stem cells from HFs (HFSCs) and analyzed their characteristics (reverse transcription with the polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry) and multipotent capacity (differentiation assays). HFSCs possess a high self-renewal capacity and share characteristics of putative HF epithelial stem cells, such as the expression of Lgr6, cytokeratins (Ck18, Ck19), and multipotent stem cell markers (Sca-1, Bcrp1, nestin, P75NTR). Under defined cell culture conditions, HFSCs are able to differentiate into mesenchymal lineages (adipocytes, chondrocytes, muscle cells) or neurons (βIII-tubulin). We report, for the first time, an in vitro culture method to isolate Lgr6-positive stem cells from HFs. HFSCs represent a unique tool for studying the cell characteristics of Lgr6-positive cells and should provide a novel easily accessible source for regenerative therapies.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, Medical Clinic Innenstadt, Ludwig Maximilian's University Munich, Ziemssenstraße 1, 80336, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Offers
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hummel
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seissler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: C548022:Lgr6 protein, mouse; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled