Skin Renewal Complex - Advanced Stem Cell Technology Complex (Patented) 

Building upon over eight years of research and experience in applying stem cell components and technology in skin care, our founder and team of scientists have developed a patented complex called SRC-7™.  SRC-7™ is comprised of seven specialized and scientifically verified ingredients which work together to restore youthful stem cell activity in human skin.  This technology does not require any human donors of stem cells, or human tissue.

Based upon recent research discoveries of three different types of stem cells in human skin and how they contribute to skin renewal and revitalization, SRC-7™ was designed to “awaken” the power of each of these stem cell types to build up collagen, reverse thinning skin, and to renew and rebuild collagen, elastin, epidermal skin layers and restore rejuvenating activity to a more youthful level.  Each component of SRC-7™ provides stimulation to each of the three stem cell types in human skin so that the effect of each is multiplied due to the “bio-communication” which occurs between each of the three types of cells.

Three of our products currently make use of this unique and highly-effective technology:

The Science Behind SRC-7
A lot of progress has been made in understanding the different stem cell types in the skin and how they perform their unique function. The latest research work in the contribution of stem cells resident in skin tissues indicates a multi-faceted contribution in the process of skin repair and renewal. Scientific study has now identified at least three stem cell types which contribute to skin regeneration.


Epidermal Stem Cells
The epidermis is the perfect example of a self-renewing tissue. The stem cell responsible for this renewal is the highly differentiated, tissue specific, epidermal stem cell (ESC) which resides at the basal layer of the epidermis (Figure 1). This stem cell type is differentiated to the point of producing only new cells specific to the epidermis. These ESC’s continually differentiate into daughter cells (also called TA cells), new epidermal stem cells, and, of course, new epidermal skin cells of various types. These cells provide the new epidermal growth needed for the day to day replacement of the outer layer Stratum Corneum (SC) barrier, as exfoliated keratin is lost to the environment. The proliferation capacity of these cells and of their next progeny defines the epidermal turnover rate. With age, the rate of replacement of the SC is reduced, making it thinner, more fragile, and more likely to suffer from impaired wound healing (typically skin thickness lessens by about 10% per decade). ESC’s also play a role in the accelerated repair of the epidermal area when needed due to trauma. Summarizing … Epidermal stem cells are responsible for the continued requirement of replacing the outer layers of our skin and tend to perform less with age causing our skin to become thinner; they also aid in healing when skin trauma occurs.

Figure 1 – Epidermal Cross Section, Stemology Skin Care

Follicular Stem Cells/Dermal Stem Cells (DSC)
In human skin, subpopulations of stem cells reside in the hair follicle bulb; among these are mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). MSC’s are multi-potent stem cells found throughout the body and provide the general tissue repair and restore function within the structures of the human body. In this particular locale (the dermal papilla) these stem cells exhibit the important expected behavior of self-renewal, while some also migrate into the dermis where they proliferate and differentiate into fibroblast cells (see figure 2). These fibroblast cells provide regeneration for the extracellular matrix (ECM) by producing new collagen and elastin, which is constantly being required to maintain skin elasticity, firmness, and a strong supporting structure. In the case of both aging and wound repair these MSC’s in the dermal papilla are essential for achieving rapid and effective rejuvenation by differentiating into fibroblasts and providing new, needed, collagen and elastin in the ECM. As with ESC’s the number of DSC’s often decline with age and they fail to produce the collagen and elastin needed for dermal layer support of the skin. Aging Dermal Stem Cells are less effective in generating new fibroblasts, and thus new collagen. This causes a loss of collagen with age and a loss of youthful facial structure.

Skin cross section showing follicular stem cells in dermal layer and adipose stem cells in hypodermis, Stemology Skin Care


Hypodermal Stem Cells/Adipose Stem Cells

In addition to the tissue specific epidermal stem cells and the hair follicle bulb mesenchymal stem cells, which shall be referred to as “dermal stem cells” (DSC), recent discovery has found a vast number of mesenchymal stem cells in the hypodermis which lies below the dermal layer of the skin (see figure 3). Research in the past few years has discovered that literally millions of Adipose stem cells reside in the hypodermis, which is mostly a fat layer that is found just under the skin’s dermal layer. It is now estimated that about 10% of the hypodermis tissue is composed of adipose stem cells, with, approximately, the other 90% being lipid cells. After years of research in skin tissue engineering, adipocyte-derived stem cells have been identified as a key player in the skin regenerative process with a cell-to-cell communication pathway into the dermal and epidermal layers. ASC’s produce a high content of growth factors (substances acting as messengers) to communicate with keratinocytes and stimulate their proliferation, as well as communication to fibroblast cells to produce more collagen and elastin, which are indispensable to the regeneration and renewal of the skin’s epidermal and dermal layers. There is a major connection between both the dermis and the epidermis and the adipose tissue. The three stem cell types communicate and work together for skin renewal, especially when there is trauma.

Cross-section of skin showing Adipose Stem Cells in Hypodermis


Combined and Coordinated Activation with SRC-7
All of these various stem cells in human skin work together for the same end … to contribute to epidermal and dermal renewal and regeneration. Given these various studies and research discoveries that have been made in the recent years, the possibility exists that a combined formula could be developed that would provide a unique solution to stimulating all of the various stem cell types pertaining to the skin (especially aging skin), resulting in increased epidermal cell production, increased collagen/elastin production and increased stem cell replication. This type of increased activity would be useful for both improved skin appearance, and for wound healing. Based upon research and proven results, certain ingredients, offering a biochemical “message” performance, could be used to create a combined and coordinated stimulation of all three stem cell types. The protecting and revitalizing of human epidermal, dermal and hypodermal stem cells, by means of a highly effective, individually proven combination of actives should not only help to accelerate the skin’s natural repair process but also mitigate skin appearance damage from age related and environmental factors. This combined formulation provides a means of addressing all three human skin stem cell types (ESC, DSC, & ASC) in one, such that they can perform together the process of skin renewal and rejuvenation. This is a key part of SRC-7. In addition to these combined stem cell activators, an additional component to SRC-7 multiplies the revitalizing impact by actually increasing the active stem cell pool through increased replication of new stem cells.

This increased replication of new stem cells allows for a more highly accelerated rejuvenation of new skin. All of these powerful components, supporting one another for mutual benefit, provide a performance that is beyond the “sum of the parts,” and delivers the most advanced stem cell technology available for skin care today.


Bibliography

  1. Soufiane Ghannam, et al, “Immunosuppression by mesenchymal stem cells: mechanisms and clinical applications,” Stem Cell Research & Therapy 2010, 1:2
  2. Edwin M. Horwitz MD, PhD, and William R. Prather RPh, MD, “Cytokines As The Major Mechanism of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Clinical Activity”, Israel Medical Association Journal, Vol 11, April 2009
  3. Scott Maxson, E. A. Lopez, et al, “Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Wound Repair,” Stem Cells Trans Med 2012
  4. Yaojiong Wu M.D., Ph.D. et al, “Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Wound Healing Through Differentiation and Angiogenesis,” Stem Cells, Vol 25, Issue 10, pp. 2648-2659
  5. H. Nakagawa, et al, “Human mesenchymal stem cells successfully improve skin-substitute wound healing,” British Journal of Dermatology 2005 Jul;153(1):29-36.
  6. Jeuong, JH, Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Journal, 2010 June;5(2) 137-140
  7. Kim WS, Park BS, Park SH, Kim HK, Sung JH., “Antiwrinkle effect of adipose-derived stem cell: activation of dermal fibroblast by secretory factors,” J Dermatol Sci. 2009 Feb;53(2):96-102
  8. Kim, Park, et. al., Textbook of Aging Skin, Jan 2010, p. 201
  9. Nkemcho Ojeh, et. al., Stem Cells in Skin Regeneration, Wound Healing, and Their Clinical Applications,     Int J Mol Sci. 2015 Oct; 16(10): 25476–25501.
  10. Driskell, R.R., et. al.   Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells at a Glance, Journal of Cell Science 124, 1179-1182 (2011)
  11. Montano, Irene, and Schmid, Daniel, Skin Aging, Mechanisms and Treatment, Mibelle BioChemisty Group (2014)
  12. Kim WS, Park BS, Park SH, Kim HK, Sung JH., “Antiwrinkle effect of adipose-derived stem cell: activation of dermal fibroblast by secretory factors,” J Dermatol Sci. 2009 Feb;53(2):96-102
  13. Bertozzi, Nicollo, et. al. The biological and clinical basis for the use of adipose-derived stem cells in the field of wound healing, Annals of Medicine and Surgery Vol 20 (August 2017) pp. 41-48
  14. Meenakshi Gaur, Marek Dobke and Victoria V. Lunyak, Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Adipose Tissue in Clinical Applications for Dermatological Indications and Skin Aging, Int J Mol Sci. 2017, 18, 208
  15. Barrientos S, Stojadinovic O, Golinko MS, Brem H, Tomic-Canic M. Growth factors and cytokines in wound healing. Wound Repair Regen. 2008;16(5):585–601.
  16. Jae Ho Jeong. Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2010) 5: 137
  17. Kim WS, Park BS, Sung JH, Yang JM, Park SB, Kwak SJ, Park JS. Wound healing effect of adipose derived stem cells: a critical role of secretory factors on human dermal fibroblasts. J Dermatol Sci. 2007;48(1):15–24
  18. Nakagawa H, Akita S, Fukui M, Fujii T, Akino K. Human mesenchymal stem cells successfully improve skin-substitute wound healing. Br J Dermatol. 2005;153(1):29–36.
  19. Liu P, Deng Z, Han S, Liu T, Wen N, Lu W, Geng X, Huang S, Jin Y. Tissue-engineered skin containing mesenchymal stem cells improves burn wounds. Artif Organs. 2008;32(12):925–31.
  20. A Viljoen, N Mncwangi, and I Vermaak, “Anti-Inflammatory Iridoids of Botanical Origin,” Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2012 May; 19(14): 2104–2127.
  21. C. Bezivin, A. Perolot, E. Loing, “Swertia chirata Extract Promotes Epidermal Regeneration through Stimulation of Paracrine Communication Between Adipose Derived Stem Cells and the Epidermis,” International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists Journal 3-2015
  22. Blanpain C, Fuchs E. Epidermal stem cells of the skin. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 2006;22:339–373.
  23. Daniel Schmid, Esther Belser and Fred Zülli, Stem Cell Activation for Smoother and More Even Skin, Mibelle Biochemistry, Switzerland, June 2013
  24. Yuanyuan Li,* Jamie Zhang, Jiping Yue, Xuewen Gou, and Xiaoyang Wu, “Epidermal stem cells in skin wound healing,” Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2017 Sep 1; 6(9): 297–307.