Differentiation of CD34+ Human Hair Follicle Stem Cells into Functional Melanocytes

Abstract

Skin degenerative diseases, which lower the quality of life has become a colossal challenge across the globe. Despite significant number of such diseases including vitiligo and psoriasis, there has been no great progress in finding a cure to these diseases. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) seem promising in this front as MSCs possess unique immunomodulatory properties. There have been preclinical and clinical studies suggesting the use of MSCs for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), a prominent inflammatory skin disease. MSCs can be derived from multiple sources including adipose tissue, dental pulp, umbilical cord, placenta, peripheral blood, endometrium, synovium, and skin. However, stem cells isolated from hair follicle seem to be the closest to the original melanin producing cells. The differentiation of these stromal cells into melanin producing cells holds a promising cellular therapy for skin degenerative diseases. This study aims to differentiate human CD34+ melanocyte stem cells into melanin producing cells. The differentiation has been characterized by probing for the expression of proliferation markers dopachrome tautomerase (DCT ) and microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF) and differentiation markers melanocytic antigen (PNL2) and tyrosinase (TYR) through the differentiation process. The results confirm the differentiation of the enriched CD34+ melanocytes into melanin producing cells. Melanin production was confirmed by ELISA to estimate melanin content.