Differentiation of cultured hair follicle neural crest stem cells into functional melanocytes
Hongjuan Wang,
Wen Hu,
Fang Xiang,
Zixian Lei,
Xiangyue Zhang,
Jingzhan Zhang,
Yuan Ding,
Xiaojing Kang
Affiliations
Hongjuan Wang
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Dermatology Research, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
Wen Hu
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Dermatology Research, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
Fang Xiang
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Dermatology Research, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
Zixian Lei
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Dermatology Research, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
Xiangyue Zhang
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Dermatology Research, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
Jingzhan Zhang
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Dermatology Research, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
Yuan Ding
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Dermatology Research, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
Xiaojing Kang
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Dermatology Research, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China; Corresponding authorDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Many autologous melanocytes are required for surgical treatment of depigmentation diseases such as vitiligo. However, primary cultured melanocytes have a limited number of in vitro passages. The production of functional epidermal melanocytes from stem cells provides an unprecedented source of cell therapy for vitiligo. This study explores the clinical application of melanocytes induced by hair follicle neural crest stem cells (HFNCSCs). This study established an in vitro differentiation model of HFNCSCs into melanocytes. Results demonstrate that most differentiated melanocytes expressed the proteins C-KIT, MITF, S–100B, TYRP1, TYRP2, and tyrosinase. The HFNCSC-derived melanocytes were successfully transplanted onto the dorsal skin of mice and survived in the local tissues, expressing marker protein of melanocytes. In conclusion, HFNCSCs in mice can be induced to differentiate into melanocytes under specific conditions. These induced melanocytes exhibit the potential to facilitate repigmentation in the lesion areas of vitiligo-affected mice, suggesting a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention.
