Learn about cytokines, mRNA’s and other things created by stem cells as they communicate with other cells to orchestrate regeneration. Regular readers of BFT know that Drs. John and George are stem cells scientists who got to think about skin care as a spinoff of their work in diabetes. We are bench researchers as well as research docs and opened up a study center in Newport Beach recently, California.
You can read one of our documents on the subject here. The human stem cell-derived growth factors are natural to humans completely. Organic if you will, in that they are a perfect molecular match to the same growth factors our own bodies make. That means that allergies to these molecules are just about nonexistent.
This would put them in a completely different category that, say, snail “growth factors” from non-human users of the animal kingdom, making them “xeno” proteins and quite prone to causing allergic reactions. Our human cells make a huge selection of different cytokines & growth factors, which function as signaling molecules from cell to cell, and which also controls metabolic machinery within cells. For instance, a family group of growth factors (GF’s) named fibroblast growth factors (FGF) is accountable for stimulating fibroblasts in the skin to make more fibroblasts (proliferate) and manufacture more matrix (hyaluronic acid, collagen, elastin). Generally a very important thing for epidermis. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) similarly causes skin cells to proliferate.
Also, a very important thing, generally speaking. Except when it isn’t. For instance, providing natural EGF unbalanced by other growth factors might plump epidermis however the quality of that pores and skin may reduce. More on that in another post. Our work suggests that growth factors and cytokines have to be in a design that matches what nature designed – matched up to plans (genetically, and in dynamic response to conditions like environment, damage, etc).
- Rethink your jewelry
- 3 THE BEAST
- The amount of collagen decreases in your skin as time passes (about 1% a calendar year)
- Oils of Life intensely revitalising facial oil, The Body Shop, £30 for 30ml
- 2 years back from New York City
One of the very most profound lessons in all this is that aging and swelling go hand-in-hand and especially inside our largest organ – skin (so called skin’flammaging). Inflammation is mediated generally by cytokine patterns, which communicate and control the disease-fighting capability (e.g. mix talk to white cells), and growth factors are part of the. Inflammatory cytokines are helpful for early stages of wood recovery, however in stages actually inhibit healing or cause scarring and fibrosis later. Fibrosis means that collagen fibrils improperly are oriented, distorting skin architecture, making it less elastic; not just a pleasant aesthetic. Inflammatory cytokines can provide temporary advantages (from puffing up epidermis which hides wrinkles) but are actually pro-aging, not anti-aging.
More when compared to a decade ago, skin care products started showing up based on development factors derived from fibroblasts (not stem cells). Typically these use fetal foreskin derived fibroblasts (ethical & sensory punch) in the lab, then stem cells rather. Familiar top quality bio-term products like TNS from SkinMedica derive from this technology.
There is good research to aid a positive effect. Nonetheless, it is notable that one stem cells produce 10-50x the concentration of key GF compared to fibroblasts. This makes sense when you realize the various roles of these cell types play in wound regeneration and healing. Fibroblasts are the corporals for the reason that war really, taking orders from the generals – the stem cells. Stem cells bark the orders, fibroblasts listen, and do the grunt work.
Our own research has focused on the benefit of stem cell derived growth factors and cytokines (GF&C’s). What we should have discovered is a mixture that tilts the balance toward anti-inflammatory GF&Cs provides strong anti-aging and aesthetic benefits. No surprise there. Our newer work, still in clinical testing, targets stem cell produced admixture repair of marks, rosacea, acne, melasma, hyperpigmentation, and a bunch of other epidermis conditions.
We also have recently discovered a way to stimulate follicle regeneration and hair regrowth using the stem-cell system (presently in screening). Not all stem cells will be the same. There are several types. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC’s) are one type; they form an integral area of the human body’s defense against damage and stress. MSC can be found in many places in the physical body – bone marrow, fat, tooth roots, around arteries, etc. Each one of these are called “niches” and reveal the house environment of this type of MSC.
There is increasing evidence that marked distinctions can be found in the biology of MSCs that are dependent on the tissues of origins. Indeed this niche factor appears to be the main way to obtain a deviation in the biological properties of MSCs (De Bari et al., 2008; Augello, Kurth & De Bari, 2010). Thus, not all MSC’s will be the same. MSC migrate to damaged regions of the physical body. There they become first responders.