Isolation and characterization of neurogenic mesenchymal stem cells in human scalp tissue

Tzu-Bi Shih, Don Ching Lee, Shih Chen Chen, Ren Yeu Tsai, Chin Ting Huang, Chia Che Tsai, Ein-Yiao Shen, Wen-Ta Chiu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

213 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that adult tissues contain stem/progenitor cells capable of not only generating mature cells of their tissue of origin but also transdifferentiating themselves into other tissue cells. Murine skin-derived precursor cells, for example, have been described as unique, nonmesenchymal-like stem cells capable of mesodermal and ectodermal neurogenic differentiation. Human-derived skin precursors are less well characterized. In this study, the isolation and characterization of adherent, mesenchymal stem cell-like cells from human scalp tissue (hSCPs) are described. hSCPs initially isolated by both medium-selection (ms-hSCPs) and single-cell (c-hSCPs) methods were cultured in medium containing epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor-β. Cultured ms-hSCPs and c-hSCPs demonstrated a consistent growth rate, continuously replicated in cell culture, and displayed a stable phenotype indistinguishable from each other. Both hSCPs expressed surface antigen profile (CDw90, SH2, SH4, CD105, CD166, CD44, CD49d-e, and HLA class I) similar to that of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). The growth kinetics, surface epitopes, and differentiation potential of c-hSCP cells were characterized and compared with BM-MSCs. In addition to differentiation along the osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages, hSCPs can effectively differentiate into neuronal precursors evident by neurogenic gene expression of glial fibrillary acid protein, NCAM, neuron filament-M, and microtubule-associated protein 2 transcripts. Therefore, hSCPs may potentially be a better alternative of BM-MSCs for neural repairing, in addition to their other mesenchymal regenerative capacity. Our study suggests that hSCPs may provide an alternative adult stem cell resource that may be useful for regenerative tissue repair and autotransplantations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1012-1020
Number of pages9
JournalStem Cells
Volume23
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2005

Keywords

  • Multipotent stem/progenitor cells
  • Neurogenic differentiation
  • Scalp tissue

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Isolation and characterization of neurogenic mesenchymal stem cells in human scalp tissue'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this