Khaberni - Scientists have discovered a new way of cultivating functional hair follicles in the laboratory, capable of naturally growing and connecting with surrounding tissues, marking a significant step towards finding a treatment for hair loss and baldness.
This progress was achieved by a team of scientists in the United States and Japan, who identified a type of cell that supports hair regeneration and stimulates the growth of complete follicles. For the first time, it has become possible to produce functioning hair follicles in the laboratory, instead of needing to plant them in a living animal to function.
The "basic" hair follicle begins with epithelial stem cells that produce the hair itself, and dermal papilla cells that send growth signals. However, previous experiments using only these two types did not succeed in making the follicles grow or fully connect with tissues in the laboratory.
Here comes the role of the third type of cells, the intermediate fibroblasts, which provide support and structure around the follicle, especially in the "bulge" area, which is considered the center of hair growth.
The scientists found that introducing this type of cell at the early stages of follicle formation is sufficient to stimulate their growth and connection with the tissues in the laboratory.
The research team hopes in the future to clarify the precise role of these cells and study how they affect the hair growth cycle in the living body, paving the way for developing treatments that can be used in humans.
Yoshio Shimo, CEO of "Organ Tech", which contributed to the funding of the research, says: "This work outlines the essential structure needed for the functional regeneration of hair follicles," adding that the results enhance broader strategies in regenerative medicine for naturally and stably rebuilding tissues.
The lab-grown hair can also be used to study hair growth and assess new treatments, without the need for animal or human trials.
