Aging Reversed By Blocking Critical Regulator in Skin

Researchers from Stanford have reversed the effects of aging on the skin of mice by blocking the action of a single critical protein.

Previous aging studies used gene microarrays (DNA chips used to determine which genes out of thousands are active in a particular tissue at a particular time) to the determine which genes were active in old skin cells. The authors of this study looked at these results and figured out that many of these active “aged skin” genes were regulated by a protein called NF-kappa-B.

So what did they do? (This is why I love science).mouse.jpg

They devised a way to block this NF-kappa-B in skin.

To determine if this had any effect on aging, they took 2-year-old mice (that’s old in mice-years) and blocked NF-kappa-B for two weeks. When they examined the skin, they discovered that the active genes were more like young skin.

Incredibly, the skin looked and behaved like younger skin — blocking NF-kappa-B had reversed the skin’s aging.

So why aren’t I selling Dr Benabio’s NF-kappa-B face rejuvenating cream?

First, I don’t need the money (ha,ha,ha,ha,ha).

Second, NF-kappa-B does have important regulating properties and likely is significant in blocking cancer development. Therefore, blocking NF-kappa-B might expose you to significant risks for cancer or other complications.

This work could one day, however, be useful in helping older people heal from an injury more quickly.

March 14, 2008 | Filed Under Dermatology News, Health and Beauty, Mini Med School: Basic Science 

Comments

4 Responses to “Aging Reversed By Blocking Critical Regulator in Skin”

  1. Ami on March 14th, 2008 7:47 am

    This goes right to the question I’ve had about many anti-aging products. To look good for the day, are we paying a long term price?

    Is there “lead” in our makeup?

  2. TJ on March 14th, 2008 6:28 pm

    Could you site the article please?

    *Link to the original article is in the post.

  3. Trusted.MD Network on March 19th, 2008 9:38 am

    MedBlog Power 8…

    03/19/2008 - 03/26/2008Next revision: 03/26/2008

    (Key: Rank, Blog name, Last week’s rank, Post of note)

    1) over my med body! (1), Health Care’s Broke: Primary Care Crumbling…

  4. Sharon on May 18th, 2008 8:51 pm

    Very interesting reading. Thank you.

Leave a Reply