我們實驗室主要利用毛囊為模型，研究幹細胞的調控與組織再生的機轉，並發展藥物來治療禿髮及促進組織再生。毛囊具有特色的週期性生長，可分為退化期，休止期與生長期，是研究幹細胞調控的重要模型。毛囊由皮膚發育而來，上方由角質細胞形成柱狀的結構，而毛囊的間質細胞 (毛囊乳突細胞)則聚集成團位於毛囊根部。毛囊再生有賴於毛囊幹細胞的活化及分化，而毛囊幹細胞位於毛囊的次級毛胚及凸部。除了毛囊幹細胞外，毛囊也具有黑色素幹細胞，其活化製造黑色素，讓頭髮產生顏色。黑色素幹細胞的提早消失，會造成白髮產生。目前對於白髮，尚無法有效預防與治療。毛囊在生長期與休止期的體積可以超過幾十倍的差異，是生理上體積變化最大的組織。毛囊進入生長期之後，是體內細胞分裂最快的組織之一。因為其快速生長的特性，毛囊在受到放射線或化療的傷害後，細胞容易死亡，造成大量掉髮。毛囊如何感受體內及體外環境的變化而再生新髮，出現禿髮或是出現白髮，是醫學及生物學上有趣的問題，也具有醫學的重要性。我們實驗室的研究著重在:

        We employ hair follicles as a model to study how stem cells are regulated and to decipher the principles of tissue regeneration. We aspire to combine biological principles and tissue engineering technology to promote hair growth and to prevent hair loss. The hair follicle, a 3-dimnensional cylindrical miniorgan derived from the skin, is composed of keratinocytes on the top with its characteristic mesenchymal cells, named dermal papilla cells, aggregated at the bottom. The hair follicles are one of the few organs that undergo life-long cyclic growth. Through epithelial-mesenchymal interaction, hair follicles cyclically transit from catagen (regressing phase) through telogen (resting phase) and back to anagen (growing phase). It is the tissue that exhibits the largest volume change in the physiological state within the body, with dozens of times increase of volume from resting to growing phase. Hair follicle stem cells are harbored in the keratinocyte compartment, and their activation fuels the regeneration of hair follicles from the resting phase. In the growing phase, hair follicles have the fastest cell division in the body to support continuous hair shaft elongation. In this phase, hair follicle keratinocytes also exhibit a high degree of cell plasticity, differentiating into seven distinct cell layers within the hair follicle. Because of its rapid growth characteristics, growing hair follicles are highly sensitive to radiation or chemotherapy, and extensive hair loss can occur. The regulation of hair follicle stem cells, especially how hair follicle stem cells sense environmental changes for regeneration, is an interesting question in biology. On the other hand, studying hair follicle stem cells and their injury response is also of clinical significance. When the activity of hair follicle stem cells is compromised or the hair follicles are damaged, alopecia can develop. By activating hair follicle stem cells and promoting self-repair after injury, we can promote hair growth and prevent hair loss. Our laboratory research focuses on:

1.  How do tissue microenvironment (microniche), systemic factors (macroniche) and the external environment (macroniche) regulate hair follicle stem cells?

2.  How do individual hair follicle cells in this three-dimensional miniorgan communicate and coordinate with other cells to achieve tissue regeneration and degeneration?

3.  How do growing hair follicles repair themselves after injury to avoid entering into catagen (regressing phase)?

4.  How is the hair cycle regulated?

5.  How to regenerate new hair follicles once they are lost?

6.  Regeneration of other tissues and cells, including skin, cornea, pigment, etc.

7. Tissue engineering for tissue regeneration.