719 Single-cell transcriptomics reveals lineage trajectory of human scalp hair follicle and informs mechanisms of hair graying

Abstract

Hair conditions, such as hair loss and graying, are prevalent human conditions. But they are often poorly controlled due to our insufficient understanding of human scalp hair follicle (hsHF) in health and disease. Here we describe a comprehensive single cell RNAseq analysis on highly purified black and early stage graying hsHFs. A concise single cell atlas for human HF and its early graying changes is generated and verified using samples from multiple independent individuals. These data reveal hsHF's lineage trajectory in unprecedented detail and uncover its multiple unexpected features not found in mouse HFs, including presence of an innerbulge like compartment in growing phase, lack of a discrete companion layer, and enrichment of EMT features in HF stem cells (HFSCs).