Mesenchymal stem cells and regeneration

  Mesenchymal stem cells and regeneration  

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are stromal cells which self-renew and differentiate to mesodermal lineages. In addition, their capacity to enhance tissue restoration has made them become a central focus in regenerative applications. Their main positive effects are based on immunomodulation and paracrine factors involved in tissue homeostasis, angiogenesis, wound healing and antiapoptosis. MSCs secrete anti-inflammatory factors such as interleukin 10, transforming growth factor 1 and prostaglandin E2. MSCs also induce regulatory dendritic cells and T cell populations and promote anti-inflammatory macrophage polarization.

According to paracrine activity, MSCs secrete growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) or fibroblast growth factor (FGF). All of them enhance tissue restoration and their benefits are well known in the treatment of multiple indications.

For these reasons, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) whose extraction from adipose tissue is less complex than other sources and provides a high cell yield, are being widely researched in the dermatological field, particularly in tissue regeneration, psoriasis, alopecia and skin burns.

Specifically in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), SVF derived from adipose tissue and ADSCs derivative products have demonstrated significant improvement in hair density and diameter according to the latest reported outcomes. Growth factors that ADSCs release enhance vascularization and skin regeneration and promote dermal papilla cells functionality, a key population of resident stem cells in the hair follicle. In fact, IGF and FGF are directly involved in the anagen phase, the active growth phase of the hair cycle, when DPCs start proliferating and hair growth onset takes place.

In addition, microinflammation is also one of the etiopathological features of AGA, as evidenced by the lymphocytes and mast cells infiltration around the bulge, an area implicated in the correct hair cycle dynamics. In this context cytokines and anti-inflammatory factors released by ADSCs can immunomodulate the niche and promote the hair cycle restoration.

Given these findings AGAcell® aims to harness all these multiple regenerative benefits and to combine ADSCs with an energy booster intended to enhance their intrinsic potential. Currently AGAcell® is being undergone in a robust preclinical development in order to facilitate its rapid translation into clinical application for AGA subjects.

We at Ideeeatx are committed to its development and excited to lead such a challenging and fulfilling project.