Apple Stem Cells Offer Hope For Aging and Damaged Skin
As we age, the reduced turnover of our cells means we can lose control over how our skin ages. Epidermal
stem cells
needed to create healthy new skin are significantly reduced and
function less efficiently. A discovery based on promising plant stem
cell research may allow you to regain control.
Scientists have
found that a novel extract derived from the stem cells of a rare apple
tree cultivated for its extraordinary longevity shows tremendous ability
to rejuvenate aging skin. By stimulating aging skin stem cells, this
plant extract has been shown to lessen the appearance of unsightly
wrinkles. Clinical trials show that this unique formulation increases
the longevity of skin cells, resulting in skin that has a more youthful
and radiant appearance.
Stem Cells
Cells in our bodies
are programmed for specific functions. A skin cell, a brain cell, and a
liver cell all contain the same DNA, or set of genes. However, each
cell’s fate is determined by a set of epigenetic (able to change gene
expression patterns) signals that come from inside it and from the
surrounding cells as well. These signals are like command tags attached
to the DNA that switch certain genes on or off.
This selective
coding creates all of the different kinds of cells in our bodies, which
are collectively known as differentiated (specialized) cells.
Although
differentiated cells vary widely in purpose and appearance, they all
have one thing in common: they all come with a built-in operational
limit. After so many divisions, they lose their ability to divide and
must be replaced. This is where stem cells come in.
Your body
also produces other cells that contain no specific programming. These
stem cells are “blank,” so your body can essentially “format” them any
way it pleases. Two universal aspects shared by this type of cell are:
(1) the ability to replenish itself through a process of self-renewal
and (2) the capacity to produce a differentiated cell.
In animals and humans, two basic kinds of stem cells exist: embryonic and adult stem cells.
Embryonic stem cells have the power to change into any differentiated cell type found anywhere in your body.
Adult stem cells,
on the other hand, are generally more limited. They can only evolve
into the specific type of cell found in the tissue where they are
located. The primary function of these adult stem cells is maintenance
and repair.
But certain adult stem cells found in nature retain
the unlimited developmental potential that embryonic stem cells
possess. These cells have become the main focus for an exciting new wave
of
regenerative medicine (repairing damaged or diseased tissues and organs using advanced techniques like stem cell therapy and tissue engineering).
The Role of Stem Cells in the Skin
The
basal (innermost) layer of the skin’s epidermis comprises two basic
types of cells: (1) the slowly dividing epidermal stem cells (that
represent about 2-7% of the basal cell population) and (2) their rapidly
dividing offspring that supply new cells to replace those that are lost
or dying.
1-3
The slow
self-renewal process of epidermal stem cells, however, creates a
problem. Because each epidermal stem cell only lasts for a certain
number of divisions, and because each division runs the risk of lethal
DNA mutation, the epidermal stem cell population can become depleted.
When this happens, lost or dying skin cells begin to outnumber their
replacements and the skin’s health and appearance start to decline.
So what can be done? Scientists turned to plants for the answer.
Planting a Seed of Hope
Plants
also have stem cells. Like humans, plant stem cells depend on
epigenetic control and signals from surrounding cells for their
development. Unlike humans, however, each plant-derived adult stem cell
possesses the ability to generate a whole new plant.
4 Scientists have found a way to harness the power of plant stem cells by growing plant tissues in culture.
The
technique is a relatively simple one. First, viable tissue is obtained
from a source plant. This material is called an explant. Next, a small
cut is made in the explant. New cells form on the surface of this cut in
an attempt to heal the wound. This colorless mass of cells is called a
callus. The slowly dividing cells of a callus are undifferentiated cells
that lack the characteristics of normal plant cells. They are
essentially unprogrammed and full of potential.
With this
technology, it is theoretically possible to propagate any plant cell in a
liquid culture, opening up a whole new realm of possibilities. This
fact started scientists thinking—what would happen if an extract of
genetically long-lived plant stem cell tissue was applied to human skin?
Comparing Apples to Apples
Today,
apples are cultivated primarily to enhance their appearance and flavor.
But before the rise of refrigeration, an apple’s ability to stay fresh
for a long time was its most sought-after characteristic.
For
this reason, a special variety of apple was cultivated in the middle of
the 18th century that could be stored for a greatly extended period of
time. In essence, it was the genetically modified, longer-living stem
cells of this tannin-rich variety of apple, called the Uttwiler
Spätlauber apple, which were responsible for its unique storage
longevity.
In a certain isolated area of rural Switzerland, a
few of these hardy apple trees still survive today. Scientists obtained
an explant from the leaf of one of these trees to produce a special
anti-aging stem cell extract.
The Amazing Results
In
order to test the theory that this unique plant extract would produce
anti-aging effects, scientists at Mibelle Biochemistry first obtained
human stem cells from the blood of an umbilical cord. Their first
in-house study on cell viability showed that, at a concentration of only
0.1%, an extract of Uttwiler Spätlauber stem cells stimulated the
proliferation of human stem cells by an astounding 80%!
In
a second experiment, these scientists irradiated the umbilical cord
blood stem cells with UV light. Nearly 50% of the stem cells cultured in
growth medium alone died, but the cells grown in the culture containing
the special apple extract showed only a small decrease in the number of
living cells.
Another
in vitro experiment conducted by the scientists involved fibroblast
cells. These are the most common of all cells in the connective tissue
of the skin. They manufacture the collagen, glycosaminoglycans,
reticular and elastic fibers, and glycoproteins that make up the
extracellular matrix (connective tissues providing support to cells).
Fibroblasts not only help provide a structural framework for the skin,
they also play a critical role in wound healing.
In their
experiment, the scientists treated fibroblast cells with hydrogen
peroxide for two hours until the cells began to show classic signs of
aging. In scientific terms, this means that several genes essential for
cell proliferation and growth were significantly down-regulated.
However, after incubating these cells for 144 hours in a 2% Uttwiler
Spätlauber extract, this down-regulation of genes was effectively
neutralized, and in some cases, it was actually reversed! In addition,
the scientists noted that the expression of an important antioxidant
enzyme called
heme oxigenase 1 was also stimulated.
Finally,
the scientists conducted a human study to determine the anti-wrinkle
effectiveness of a special cream containing a 2% Uttwiler Spätlauber
extract along with lecithin liposomes. This patent-pending cream (called
PhytoCellTec™ Malus Domestica) was applied twice daily to the crow’s
feet area of 20 participants. Wrinkle depth was reduced by an average of
8% after just two weeks, and by 15% after four weeks—thus reducing the
signs of aging.
