In Sight: Stimulating Stem Cells for Younger Skin

By: Katie Schaefer, Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine

Posted: November 2, 2007, from the November 2007 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries.

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The stem cells that are stimulated by the use of the product are endogenous stem cells or adult stem cells. “Endogenous stem cells are in your body already. They are in a stem cell reservoir from the time you are young until the day you die,” added Rinaldi, who noted that endogenous stem cells are always available for rejuvenation, given the correct stimulus. That stimulus, according to Rinaldi, is polypeptide 153, or the main ingredient in the company’s anti- aging serum.

Polypeptide 153
The serum was formulated by Basic Research for Voss Laboratories based on polypeptide 153, an ingredient that Russian scientists in Moscow and St. Petersburg discovered could help trigger stem cell rejuvenation in severe burns and scarred skin.

“Polypeptide 153 designates the 153 sequenced amino acids that comprise the peptide. It is purely a protein molecule,” said Rinaldi.

The peptide was not available for cosmetic use until late 2003, when Voss Laboratories was granted rights by the Russian scientists to use the ingredient. First, however, a large amount of testing had to be performed on the product to determine its efficacy.

Marker Activity
Polypeptide 153 underwent a series of tests before it was used commercially in the serum. Its marker activity on adult stem cells was measured.