title: hMSCs possess the potential to differentiate into DP cells in vivo and in vitro.
abstract: DP (dermal papilla) is a mesenchyme-derived structure situated at the base of the HF (hair follicle) that plays an important role in embryonic hair morphogenesis and maintenance of the hair growth cycle. hMSCs (human mesenchymal stem cells) have gained widespread attention in the field of tissue engineering, but not much is known about the differentiation of hMSCs into DP cells. hMSCs involved in HF formation were examined in our previous study. Here, we have explored the differentiation potential of hMSCs into DP cells by co-culturing hMSCs with DP cells, which proved to be the case. During the differentiation process, the expression of versican, CD133, SCF (stem cell factor), ET-1 (endothelin-1) and bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor) increased. Compared with hMSCs alone, the aggregate number clearly increased when co-cultured with DP cells. The expression in vivo of HLA-I (human leucocyte antigen class I) was confined to DP of the newly formed HF. The data suggest that hMSCs possess the potential to differentiate into DP cells in vivo and in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology and Research Center of Developmental Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Minjuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiaocan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Houqi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: DMEM, Dulbecco's minimum essential medium; DP, dermal papilla; ET-1, endothelin-1; FBS, fetal bovine serum; H&E, haematoxylin and eosin; HF, hair follicle; HLA-I, human leucocyte antigen class 1; RT–PCR, reverse transcription–PCR; SCF, stem cell factor; bFGF, basic fibroblast growth factor; co-culture; dermal papilla cells; differentiation; hMSC, human mesenchymal stem cell; hair follicle; human mesenchymal stem cells; α-SMA, α-smooth muscle actin