Zeitschrift für Plastische Chirurgie und Kosmetologie

E-BABE- Naturally Secreted Growth Factors for Aesthetics: Stimulating Skin and Hair Follicle Stem Cells

Gail K. Naughton

Involved in regulating many cellular processes, growth factors are naturally secreted proteins that support proliferation and differentiation in
cells throughout the body. Intrinsic and extrinsic aging of skin is associated with reduced levels of growth factors that are critical to normal skin
health. A novel bioengineered growth factor composition was developed by Histogen, Inc. utilizing hypoxia-induced human multipotent stem
cells grown in closed suspension bioreactors to produce cell conditioned media (CCM) and has been shown to stimulate mature skin cells and
dermal stem cells and upregulate collagen and elastin production in the body. Topical application of the formulated CCM in a randomized trial
showed statistically significant reduction in the appearance of fine lines (p< 0.001), coarse winkles (p<0.024), a reduction in pore size (p<0.01), and
an increase in elasticity (p<0.015) and skin radiance (0<0.007) and an overall improvement in appearance (p<0.009) at 90 days. Additional studies
have shown that the CCM can speed up healing and reduce inflammation when applied post-resurfacing. Since Histogen’ s unique manufacturing
process also results in upregulation of growth factors, such as follistatin, which have been shown to be important in hair viability and hair follicle
stem cell proliferation, a formulation of the CCM, known as Hair Stimulating Complex (HSC) has been studied as an injectable for hair growth.
We have developed a biopotency assay based on measuring the physiological response, as measured by the degree of proliferation of cultured
human outer root sheath (ORS) cells of the cutaneous hair follicle using colorimetric metabolic dyes. Greatest ORS proliferation correlates with
product demonstrating clinical efficacy thereby providing a predictive bioassay for ongoing and future clinical studies. Two clinical trials of HSC
have been completed, showing cosmetically relevant new hair growth and an excellent safety profile. The initial clinical pilot study was a single site,
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 26 males with androgenetic alopecia. At baseline one area of the scalp received four
0.1cc intradermal injections of HSC with placebo receiving identical treatment. HSC reached all of its safety and efficacy endpoints and showed a
statistically significant increase at 3 months in hair shaft thickness (p<0.05) and hair density (p <0.03) and a continued increase in terminal hairs
at 1 year (p<0.03) as assessed by Trichoscan image analysis, supporting the hypothesis that HSC stimulates resting and miniaturizing follicles to
increase hair growth. A Phase I/II 56 subject trial on androgenetic alopecia studied increased dosing, with 8 injections of HSC and placebo at
baseline, and a repeat dose at week 6. No severe product related adverse effects and no evidence of kidney, liver, or bone marrow toxicity were
observed. In addition, statistical significance was noted in all efficacy endpoints which included an increase in total hair count (p=0.0013), terminal
hairs (p=0.0135), vellus hairs (p=0.033) and cumulative thickness density (p=0.0026) at the twelve week primary endpoint. We ee of proliferation of
cultured human outer root sheath (ORS) cells of the cutaneous hair follicle using colorimetric metabolic dyes. Greatest ORS proliferation correlates
with product demonstrating clinical efficacy thereby providing a predictive bioassay for ongoing and future clinical studies. Recently, a company
sponsored phase 1b/2a study in 36 men was initiated in the U.S. with data expected by year-end. Naturally secreted growth factors represent an
important new category in aesthetics and have been shown across clinical studies to stimulate skin and hair follicle stem cells with anti-aging benefits.