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Updated: May 13, 2026

Isolating Hair Follicle Stem Cells and Epidermal Keratinocytes from Dorsal Mouse Skin
Published on: April 29, 2016
Analysis of bulge stem cells from the epidermis using flow cytometry
Rehan M Villani1, Mehmet Deniz Akyuz, Michaela T Niessen
1Department of Dermatology, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Researchers developed a method to isolate quiescent stem cells from mouse hair follicle bulge using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. This technique utilizes CD34 and α6-integrin markers for precise purification of these important epidermal progenitor cells.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The epidermis contains diverse progenitor cell populations crucial for skin function.
- Hair follicle bulge stem cells are the most characterized and pluripotent epidermal stem cells.
- Studying these specific cell populations requires effective isolation techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a detailed method for isolating quiescent stem cells from the hair follicle bulge.
- To enable the study of epidermal progenitor cell populations.
- To establish a reproducible technique for bulge stem cell enrichment.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of bulge stem cells from adult mouse skin.
- Utilizing fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).
- Employing immunofluorescent labeling with cell surface markers CD34 and α6-integrin.
Main Results:
- Successful enrichment of bulge stem cells using FACS and specific markers.
- A reproducible method for isolating epidermal stem cells.
- Detailed protocol for cytometer setting adjustments.
Conclusions:
- The described FACS method effectively isolates quiescent bulge stem cells.
- This technique facilitates further research into epidermal stem cell biology.
- The protocol ensures reproducible analysis for studying epidermal progenitors.
Related Concept Videos
Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell
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