Jahoda C A, Horne K A, Oliver R F
Nature. 1984;311(5986):560-2. doi: 10.1038/311560a0.
Mammalian hairs are formed by differentiation and keratinization of cells produced in the epidermal matrix (Figs 3, 4). Using the rodent vibrissa follicle as a model, transplantation studies have shown that the dermal papilla, a discrete population of specialized fibroblasts, is of prime importance in the growth of hair. Papillae induce hair growth when implanted into follicles and can interact with skin epidermis to form new hair follicles. When grown in culture, papilla cells display singular morphological and behavioural characteristics compared with connective tissue cells from other skin sources. We report here that serially cultured adult papilla cells can induce the growth of hair when implanted into follicles which otherwise would not grow hairs. This finding presents an opportunity to characterize properties distinguishing the papilla cell population from other skin fibroblasts, and, more specifically, those which control hair growth. The eventual application of this work to human hair replacement techniques can also be envisaged.
哺乳动物的毛发是由表皮基质中产生的细胞分化和角质化形成的（图3、4）。以啮齿动物的触须毛囊为模型，移植研究表明，真皮乳头是一群离散的特殊成纤维细胞，对毛发的生长至关重要。将真皮乳头植入毛囊时可诱导毛发的生长，并且能够与皮肤表皮相互作用形成新的毛囊。在培养条件下生长时，与来自其他皮肤来源的结缔组织细胞相比，真皮乳头细胞表现出独特的形态和行为特征。我们在此报告，连续培养的成年真皮乳头细胞植入原本不会生长毛发的毛囊后能够诱导毛发的生长。这一发现为鉴定区分真皮乳头细胞群体与其他皮肤成纤维细胞的特性，尤其是那些控制毛发生长的特性提供了契机。这项研究成果最终应用于人类毛发替代技术也是可以设想的。
