Isolation of multipotent adult stem cells from the dermis of mammalian skin

We describe here the isolation of stem cells from juvenile and adult rodent skin. These cells derive from the dermis, and clones of individual cells c an proliferate and differentiate in culture to produce neurons, glia, smoot h muscle cells and adipocytes. Similar precursors that produce neuron-speci fic proteins upon differentiation can be isolated from adult human scalp. B ecause these cells (termed SKPs for skin-derived precursors) generate both neural and mesodermal progeny, we propose that they represent a novel multi potent adult stem cell and suggest that skin may provide an accessible, aut ologous source of stem cells for transplantation.