Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/834468
56 july/august 2017 THE ROLES OF HUMAN GROWTH FACTORS AND STEM CELLS Let us start by understanding what human growth factors and human stem cells are, and the role they have in our skin. Growth factors are proteins secreted by keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and melanocytes that regulate cellular growth, proliferation, and differentiation. They help us maintain a healthy skin structure by aiding in stimulating cell and tissue function. Growth factors are the "brains" of the skin and come about when stem cells are introduced to the skin. Growth factors can enhance dendrite strength in the Langerhans cells, turning the macrophages at the end of each dendrite into a weapon of mass destruction against free radicals, bacterial attacks, viral assaults, and even parasitic invasion. Growth factors are the reason our skin knows how to heal itself after injury. Our skin needs these diverse and intelligent growth factors to stay alive and healthy; however, as we age, the production of growth factors decrease as well. Stem cells, on the other hand, can be introduced into another body, in hopes they will aid in the production of the ever-so- important growth factors. This has been a struggle for the skin care industry because different cells have different functions. Stem cells from bone marrow will produce growth factors that will help with the functioning of bone marrow. For this reason, it wouldn't be overly helpful to have these stem cells on the skin to treat antiaging concerns. In the medical field, there have been many successes in taking fresh stem cells from hip bones and injecting them into injured areas, such as a torn meniscus. These are mesenchymal stem cells—cells that can develop into distinct mesenchymal tissue such as bone, tendon, muscle, adipose tissue, cartilage, nerve tissue, blood, and blood cells. Our skin needs these diverse and intelligent growth factors to stay alive and healthy; however, as we age, the production of growth factors decrease as well.