Stem cells from hair follicles can give rise to new nerve cells, researchers report. The finding could lead to a new, accessible source of stem cells for therapeutic uses, they report. Stem cells have drawn a lot of attention, as they can develop various kinds of cells in the right conditions. Adult stem cells are found in various tissues in the body and can reproduce themselves into various forms of the cells found within the same type of tissue. Researchers say by harnessing a stem cell’s natural ability to reproduce and replenish cells, they may be able to develop new therapies to treat disease. In 2004, other scientists identified adult stem cells in hair follicles from mice.adult stem cells in hair follicles from mice. They mixed those stem cells with skin cells, transplanted them into hairless mice, and saw new hairs grow. Now, the new study, also involving mice, indicates that stem cells from hair follicles can do more than make hair grow. In this study, researchers put the stem cells into lab cultures and watched what happened over the next two months. Within a week, the stem cells started to give rise to cells surrounding a normal hair follicle. They developed into nerve, muscle, and skin cells.
