Modulating Mesenchymal Stem Cell Behavior Using Human Hair Keratin-Coated Surfaces

Abstract

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have shown great potential for therapeutic purposes. However, the low frequencies of hMSCs in the body and difficulties in expanding their numbers in vitro have limited their clinical use. In order to develop an alternative strategy for the expansion of hMSCs in vitro, we coated tissue culture polystyrene with keratins extracted from human hair and studied the behavior of cells from 2 donors on these surfaces. The coating resulted in a homogeneous distribution of nanosized keratin globules possessing significant hydrophilicity. Results from cell attachment assays demonstrated that keratin-coated surfaces were able to moderate donor-to-donor variability when compared with noncoated tissue culture polystyrene. STRO-1 expression was either sustained or enhanced on hMSCs cultured on keratin-coated surfaces. This translated into significant increases in the colony-forming efficiencies of both hMSC populations, when the cells were serially passaged. Human hair keratins are abundant and might constitute a feasible replacement for other biomaterials that are of animal origin. In addition, our results suggest that hair keratins may be effective in moderating the microenvironment sufficiently to enrich hMSCs with high colony-forming efficiency ex vivo, for clinical applications.

Modulation of keratin in adhesion, proliferation, adipogenic, and osteogenic differentiation of porcine adipose‐derived stem cells

“…Similar fibroblastic appearance of pASCs was also found by other groups . Recently, Hartrianti et al compared the behaviors of human MSCs on keratin coating plates and TCPS . They also found that keratin improved hMSC proliferation and even enhanced STRO‐1 expression.…”

Cultivation of human dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes on keratin‐coated silica bead substrates

“…20 Hair keratin coatings, in particular, could bring about new breakthroughs as bioactive interfaces on cell culture substrates, having been shown to encourage ECM production 9 and to moderate donor-to-donor variability while maintaining stem cell proliferative capacities. 10 In the current study, keratin was successfully coated on silica beads, which are advantageous as a cell culture substrate themselves. Silica beads are chemically inert and extremely stable; they provide a FIGURE 5.…”

“…9 Similarly, coated surfaces could also enhance the colony forming efficiency of mesenchymal stem cells and maintain their pluripotency over serial passages. 10 These studies have strengthened our understanding that human hair keratin has the potential to modulate cell behavior.…”

“…For instance, significantly higher enhancement of fibronectin expression was found in L929 mouse fibroblasts cultured on human hair keratin coated tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) plate in the form of nanosized globules . Similarly, coated surfaces could also enhance the colony forming efficiency of mesenchymal stem cells and maintain their pluripotency over serial passages . These studies have strengthened our understanding that human hair keratin has the potential to modulate cell behavior.…”

Sustainable Management of Keratin Waste Biomass: Applications and Future Perspectives

“…Film formed have good mechanical properties due to large amount of cystine linkage. Recently, human hair keratin was used for keratin-based biomaterials, which have been utilized for tissue regeneration ( Lee 2014) and humanhair keratin to enrich human mesenchymal stem cells for clinical applications (Hartrianti et al 2015).…”