2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (6): 948-954

Application of stem cells to skin anti-aging

Xiong Juan, Guan Yalin, Yang Yutong, Wang Fan, Liu Zhongshan   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Due to the inevitability of skin aging, the increasing attention paid to skin aging induced by the improvement of living standard. These have brought strong market demand and research demand in the field of anti-aging.  
OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress of skin aging and the application of stem cells to skin anti-aging, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the application and research of stem cells-related skin anti-aging.
METHODS:   The articles about skin aging and skin anti-aging related to stem cells published from November 2016 to November 2021 were retrieved on PubMed and CNKI. Old and repetitive views were excluded and the retrieved articles were organized. A total of 91 articles were included for analysis.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The manifestations of skin aging were summarized, such as wrinkles, decreased elasticity, and thinning of epidermis. We summarized the factors of skin aging including endogenous and exogenous factors, as well as the mechanisms of skin aging including the change of proliferation and differentiation balance of epidermal stem cells, oxidative stress. We focused on the changes of epidermal stem cells in aging skin, including intracellular DNA damage and increased reactive oxygen species; proliferation and differentiation decreased, asymmetry and symmetrical division balance changed; changes in the ecological microenvironment; stem cell-immune cell signaling abnormalities. (2) The research and application of mesenchymal stem cells and stem cell derivatives in skin anti-aging are introduced, for example, subcutaneous injection of stem cells or their derivatives in animal experiments indicates the role of stem cells and their derivatives in skin anti-aging by observing the thickness of dermis, oxidative stress and elastic fibers. (3) The above studies have proven the effectiveness of stem cell-related skin anti-aging, with the specific mechanisms including: increasing cell proliferation, reducing reactive oxygen species level, and regulating gene expression.
Key words: stem cell, stem cell derivative, mesenchymal stem cell, skin aging, skin anti-aging, epidermal stem cell, elasticity, review