Mesenchymal Stem CellConditioned Media Anti-Aging Skin Care
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) within the bone marrow are known to act as “emergency responders” to injury throughout the body. Responding to chemokines (cellular “S.O.S.” signals) released by injured tissues, MSC migrate to the site of injury where they participate in controlling inflammation and healing. Not only do MSC have the ability to differentiate into different types of cells (muscle, fat, skin, cartilage, nerve, etc.), they more importantly function as “command and control” of the healing response by releasing cellular chemical messengers called cytokines. Resident stem and other cells within the tissue respond to cytokines, thereby promoting, regeneration, healing, and reversal of injury. Employing sterile bioreactors and proprietary methods, Cellese cultures MSC in the laboratory to harness the power and benefits of their cytokines. Blended into the appropriate type of topical formulation, MSC cytokines demonstrate remarkable restorative effects on skin. AnteAGE® augments the body’s own repair mechanisms, augmenting the important cellular signals that become progressively more deficient in each person as they age.
Accumulating evidence suggests that growth and development, wound healing and regeneration, and aging and senescence share a common set of molecular signaling mediators, collectively called “cytokines”. Included in the term are hundreds of proteins, peptides, and glycoproteins divided into families of molecules: cytokines, growth factors, interleukins, interferons, and others. “Cocktails” of cytokines derived from cells in culture (e.g. fibroblasts or stem cells) and from plasma concentrates (e.g. PRP) are being employed as therapeutic agents for aging skin.
However, not all cytokines are regenerative; many function as immune system stimulants that promote tissue destruction, fibrosis, and scarring. A deeper understanding of cytokines and their role in anti-aging therapeutics will help the reader discern when such treatments are likely to be beneficial, or
potentially counterproductive, in aesthetic practice.
Cytokines are effective at very low concentration. In contrast to protein hormones that circulate in nanomolar (10-9 M) concentrations, cytokines are found in picommolar (10-12 M) amounts. Each individual cytokine exerts its effect through activation of a specific corresponding cell membrane receptor. Activation initiates a cascade of intracellular events that alters cell function, up-regulating or down-regulating specific gene activity. Cellular behavior is not controlled by individual cytokines but rather the net pattern of numerous molecules having complementary and/or competitive influence.
Cytokines can act within a cell, on the surface of the same cell that produces them, or on other cells in the vicinity. Nearby cell activation is termed paracrine signaling. Topical use of
cytokines mimics paracrine signaling.