Posted on: July 30, 2008
Group of researchers at AntiCancer, Inc. showed that when stem cells are isolated from adult mouse hair follicles, they can further form neural cell types: neurons and glia
Scientists further explored this ability of hair follicle cells to restore injured nerves. When stem cells were implanted into the gap region of severed limb nerves, nerve regeneration was greatly enhanced. Mice treated with these stem cells regained the ability to walk essentially normally.
Furthermore, when transplanted into severed the thoracic spinal chord, hair follicle stem cells differentiated into Schwann cells - neuron-supportive cell type. This facilitated repair of the severed spinal cord. The rejoined spinal cord reestablished extensive hind-limb locomotor performance.
These results suggest that hair follicle stem cells can promote the recovery of spinal cord injury. This study is published in 2008 issue of the journal Cell Cycle
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