Description:
Project ID: D2006-10
Background:
Wound healing is the body's natural process of regenerating dermal and epidermal tissue. When an individual is wounded, a set of complex biochemical events takes place in a closely orchestrated cascade to repair the damage. Wound healing is generally considered to be a process occurring in three phases; inflammation, granulation, and fusion. Inherent to this process is the enhanced production of several types of collagen. It has long been thought that increased collagen synthesis will accelerate skin healing. Collagen deposition is important because it increases the strength of the wound, and cells involved in the healing process attach to, grow and differentiate on the collagen matrix.
As we age, the skin's ability to replace damaged collagen diminishes and more gaps and irregularities develop in the collagen mesh, eventually leading to wrinkles. Thus, an important target of wrinkle prevention and elimination regimen is to reduce collagen breakdown and increase its supply. Stimulating collagen synthesis in aged skin has been shown to reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture.
Invention Description:
Novel signaling pathway induced by cardiotonic steroids has been identified that stimulates collagen synthesis by dermal fibroblasts. Our data shows that this may be utilized to accelerate wound healing and reduce wrinkles.
Advantages:
· Prevents or reverses loss of skin tone related to aging.
· Enhances collagen production to smooth skin and decrease wrinkles.
· In vivo testing shows marked increases in collagen production.
· Pharmaceutical composition may be administered topically or by injection.
· In vivo data available.
Applications:
Use of cardiotonic steroids stimulates collagen synthesis to accelerate wound healing and prevent and eliminate wrinkles.
IP Status: U.S. Utility #8,906,891, 9,072,751; Nationalized PCT: Canada #2,641,303; Europe #1993672: France, Germany, United Kingdom; Japan #JP 5484735