Fig. 1.

Isolation and characterization of human hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells (hHF-MSCs). The hHF-MSCs, resembling typical fibroblast-like cells, migrated out from the hair follicles (a Bars = 500 μm; b Bars = 100 μm). Keratinocytes also migrated out from the hair follicles (c Bars = 500 μm). hHF-MSCs from passage 2 (d), passage 8 (e) to passage 12 (F Bars = 200 μm). Flow cytometric analysis of cell surface markers on hHF-derived fibroblast-like cells. 2 × 10⁵ cells were incubated with primary antibodies against CD29, CD73, CD105, CD90, HLA-DR, CD31, CK15 or CD45,respectively, followed by incubation with a secondary FITC-labeled antibody. Controls were incubated with secondary antibody only. Percentages indicate the fraction of cells that stained positive (g). Adipogenic differentiation of hHF-MSCs. Compared to non-induced control (h Bars = 100 μm), induction after 3 weeks, the number of intracellular lipid droplets was further increased (i Bars = 100 μm) and was detected by Oil-red O staining (j Bars = 100 μm). Osteogenic differentiation of hHF-MSCs. Compared to non-induced control (k Bars = 200 μm), calcium nodules were formed after induction for 4 weeks and was demonstrated by Alizarin red staining (l Bars = 200 μm) and Alkaline phosphatase staining (m Bars = 200 μm)