Kwon, Ho-KeunLiu, Perry H.Lew, Dae-HyunNishimura, EmiOrgill, Dennis2017-05-112008Kwon Ho-Keun, Perry H. Liu, Dae-Hyun Lew, Emi Nishimura, Dennis Paul Orgill. 2008. Hair follicle melanocyte cells as a renewable source of melanocytes for culture and transplantation. ePlasty: Open Access Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 8, no. 1: 1-5.1937-5719http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:32659603Objective: Advances in melanocyte culture techniques have not yet led to reliable clinical methods for treating hypopigmentation disorders. We hypothesized that melanocytes harvested from plucked hair follicles may provide a renewable source of melanocytes for the treatment of hypopigmentation. Methods: Hairs with attached cells from the follicles were plucked from Yucatan pigs and implanted in a collagen-glycosaminoglycan matrix for either immediate or delayed implantation into full-thickness excisional porcine wounds. Wounds were allowed to heal and were biopsied at 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. Results: Fully healed wounds with transplanted hair follicles showed central areas of dark pigmentation corresponding to the location of implanted hair follicles. Corresponding collagen-glycosaminoglycan matrix wounds showed no central areas of pigmentation. Conclusions: Hair follicle--derived melanocytes may potentially serve as a renewable source of pigment-producing cells for treating hypopigmentation disorders.en-USJournal Article2015-01-05Kwon H, Liu PH, Lew DH, Nishimura E, Orgill DP.2017-05-11