Recent scientific research has shown that growth factors are capable of tissue remodeling, decreasing scarring, and even reversing the effects of aging on human skin tissue. Growth Factors are a highly stabilized form of protein peptides. They are naturally produced in our skin cells and act as "traffic policement" in directing different nutrients to different destinations. Without the guidance of growth factors, nutrients might have difficulty in reaching target receptor sites resulting in slow healing of scars and skin imperfections.
Over the past several decades, the discovery of growth factors has led to much hope and speculation about the use of these potent peptides in the treatment of difficult to heal skin tissue and wounds, particularly chronic wounds. In vitro experiments showed that growth factors were very effective in regulating cell proliferation, chemotaxis, and extracellular matrix formation. Over the last 10 - 15 years, clinical trials have confirmed the notion that growth factors could accelerate skin tissue repair.
|
Factor |
Source in the human body |
Primary Activity |
Comments |
|
PDGF |
platelets, endothelial cells |
promotes proliferation of connective tissue, glial and smooth muscle cells |
two different protein chains form 3 distinct dimer forms; AA, AB and BB |
|
EGF |
submaxillary gland, Brunners gland |
promotes proliferation of mesenchymal, glial and epithelial cells |
|
|
TGF-a |
common in transformed cells |
may be important for normal wound healing |
related to EGF |
|
FGF |
wide range of cells; protein is associated with the ECM |
promotes proliferation of many cells; inhibits some stem cells; induces mesoderm to form in early embryos |
at least 19 family members, 4 distinct receptors |
|
TGF-b |
activated TH1 cells (T-helper) and natural killer (NK) cells |
anti-inflammatory (suppresses cytokine production and class II MHC expression), promotes wound healing, inhibits |
at least 100 different family members |