Tissue engineering of human hair follicles using a biomimetic developmental approach

Hasan Erbil Abaci, Abigail Coffman, Yanne Doucet, James Chen, Joanna Jacków, Etienne Wang, Zongyou Guo, Jung U. Shin, Colin A. Jahoda and Angela M. Christiano ()
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Hasan Erbil Abaci: Columbia University Medical Center
Abigail Coffman: Columbia University Medical Center
Yanne Doucet: Columbia University Medical Center
James Chen: Columbia University Medical Center
Joanna Jacków: Columbia University Medical Center
Etienne Wang: Columbia University Medical Center
Zongyou Guo: Columbia University Medical Center
Jung U. Shin: Columbia University Medical Center
Colin A. Jahoda: Durham University
Angela M. Christiano: Columbia University Medical Center

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Human skin constructs (HSCs) have the potential to provide an effective therapy for patients with significant skin injuries and to enable human-relevant drug screening for skin diseases; however, the incorporation of engineered skin appendages, such as hair follicles (HFs), into HSCs remains a major challenge. Here, we demonstrate a biomimetic approach for generation of human HFs within HSCs by recapitulating the physiological 3D organization of cells in the HF microenvironment using 3D-printed molds. Overexpression of Lef-1 in dermal papilla cells (DPC) restores the intact DPC transcriptional signature and significantly enhances the efficiency of HF differentiation in HSCs. Furthermore, vascularization of hair-bearing HSCs prior to engraftment allows for efficient human hair growth in immunodeficient mice. The ability to regenerate an entire HF from cultured human cells will have a transformative impact on the medical management of different types of alopecia, as well as chronic wounds, which represent major unmet medical needs.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07579-y

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