Scientists from Sanford Burnham Prebys have created natural-looking hair that grows through the skin using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), a major scientific achievement that could revolutionize the hair growth industry.
The findings were presented today at the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) and received a Merit Award. A newly formed company, Stemson Therapeutics, has licensed the technology.
More than 80 million men, women and children in the United States experience hair loss. Genetics, aging, childbirth, cancer treatment, burn injuries and medical disorders such as alopecia can cause the condition. Hair loss is often associated with emotional distress that can reduce quality of life and lead to anxiety and depression.
“Our new protocol described today overcomes key technological challenges that kept our discovery from real-world use,” says Alexey Terskikh, Ph.D., an associate professor in Sanford Burnham Prebys’ Development, Aging and Regeneration Program and the co-founder and chief scientific officer of Stemson Therapeutics. “Now we have a robust, highly controlled method for generating natural-looking hair that grows through the skin using an unlimited source of human iPSC-derived dermal papilla cells. This is a critical breakthrough in the development of cell-based hair-loss therapies and the regenerative medicine field.”
Terskikh studies a type of cell called dermal papilla. Residing inside the hair follicle, these cells control hair growth, including hair thickness, length and growth cycle. In 2015, Terskikh successfully grew hair underneath mouse skin (subcutaneous) by creating dermal papilla derived from human pluripotent stem cells—a tantalizing but uncontrolled process that required further refinement.
The approach detailed in the ISSCR presentation, which was delivered by lead researcher Antonella Pinto, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in the Terskikh lab, features a 3D biodegradable scaffold made from the same material as dissolvable stitches. The scaffold controls the direction of hair growth and helps the stem cells integrate into the skin, a naturally tough barrier. The current protocol relies on mouse epithelial cells combined with human dermal papilla cells. The experiments were conducted in immunodeficient nude mice, which lack body hair.
The derivation of the epithelial part of a hair follicle from human iPSCs is currently underway in the Terskikh lab. Combined human iPSC-derived epithelial and dermal papilla cells will enable the generation of entirely human hair follicles, ready for allogenic transplantation in humans. Distinct from any other approaches to hair follicle regeneration, human iPSCs provide an unlimited supply of cells and can be derived from a simple blood draw.
“Hair loss profoundly affects many people’s lives. A significant part of my practice involves both men and women who are seeking solutions to their hair loss,” says Richard Chaffoo, M.D., F.A.C.S., a triple board-certified plastic surgeon who founded La Jolla Hair MD and is a medical adviser to Stemson Therapeutics. “I am eager to advance this groundbreaking technology, which could improve the lives of millions of people who struggle with hair loss.”
The technology was discovered and developed at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Further development and commercialization activities will be conducted by Stemson Therapeutics. For updates on the technology’s progress and advancement, please visit www.stemsontx.com.
Learn more: Functional hair follicles grown from stem cells
The Latest on: Induced pluripotent stem cells
[google_news title=”” keyword=”induced pluripotent stem cells” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Induced pluripotent stem cells
- Japanese researchers test cardiac spheroids for heart regeneration in monkeyson April 26, 2024 at 9:33 pm
Regenerative heart therapies involve transplanting cardiac muscle cells into damaged areas of the heart to recover lost function.
- AI helps researchers uncover gut-brain interactions in Alzheimer'son April 26, 2024 at 10:00 am
AI technology reveals more information about the gut-brain health link in Alzheimer's, suggesting new pathways for research around treatments.
- Accessible Cell Therapies for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseaseon April 25, 2024 at 10:21 pm
Researchers have now potentially advanced the accessible personalized cell-based therapies for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
- New device improves stem cell generation and chance for accessible Alzheimer's cell therapyon April 24, 2024 at 12:11 pm
Researchers in Sweden say they have improved on a technique for converting regular skin cells into neural stem cells—an advance that they say helps close the gap for accessible personalized cell-based ...
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Market Size Projected to Surge $5.2 Billion Growth by 2033, Exhibit a CAGR of 9.6%on April 24, 2024 at 5:00 am
Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) market size from USD 2.1 billion in 2023 to USD 5.2 billion in 10 years. The growing incidence of cancer drive the market's growthNewark, April 24, 2024 (GLOBE ...
- Genetically engineering a treatment for incurable brain tumorson April 22, 2024 at 8:26 am
Sandro Matosevic, associate professor in the Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics in Purdue’s College of Pharmacy, leads a team of researchers that is developing a novel immunotherapy ...
- Frozen skin cells could save the Northern White Rhino, say researcherson April 21, 2024 at 2:22 pm
Turning frozen skin into sperm and egg cells could bring back northern white rhinos? But who will carry the embryo?
- Duke team completes ten-year study on gene expression in stem cellson April 18, 2024 at 5:19 pm
To explore how stem cells decide to divide into copies of themselves or make new cells, the group researched the expression of stem cells in plants by developing a specialized microscope that takes ...
- Shinobi strikes deal with electronics powerhouse Panasonic to create new cell therapy manufacturing platformon April 18, 2024 at 1:01 pm
History is coming full circle as induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived cell therapy maker Shinobi Therapeutics links up with Panasonic and Japan’s Kyoto University, where the first mouse iPS | ...
- Adaptimmune shares drop as Genentech terminates deal once valued at $3 billionon April 12, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Shares of Adaptimmune Therapeutics were down 10% Friday after biotech powerhouse Genentech terminated a cell therapy partnership with the company valued at up to $3 billion. The collaboration and ...
via Bing News