Dermal papilla cells and melanocytes response to physiological oxygen levels depends on their interactions

Background Human dermal papilla (DP) cells and melanocytes (hMel) are central players in hair growth pigmentation, respectively. In follicles (HFs), oxygen (O2) levels average 5%, being coupled with the production of reactive species (ROS), necessary to promote growth. Materials Methods DP cell hMel proliferation phenotype were studied under physiological (5%O2, physoxia) or atmospheric (21%O2, normoxia) levels. hMel-DP interactions indirect co-culture by directly co-culturing spheroids, test whether their interaction affected response physoxia. Results Physoxia decreased senescence improved secretome phenotype, as well proliferation, migration, tyrosinase activity. co-cultures, physoxia cells’ alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity but signalling did not influence Additionally, ROS was higher than monocultures a direct correlation between generation ALP observed. 3D aggregates, where organized around DP, both activities, main functional indicators, plus normoxia. Conclusions Overall, we showed that differs according microenvironment recreated when contact favours functions, which can be relevant for regeneration purposes.