Cell-Free Blood Cell Secretome (BCS) Counteracts Skin Aging: Multi-Center Prospective Regenerative Aesthetic Medicine Study Using Exokine®

Abstract

Background:The "Inflammation Theory of Ageing" identifies pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative damage as one cause of cellular and mitochondrial deterioration and aging. Cell-free blood cell secretome (BCS) also known as autologous conditioned serum (ACS) has shown anti-inflammatory and regenerative mode of action in musculoskeletal disorders and radicular compression. Aim: To confirm that BCS can improve signs of skin aging from a previous study in a multi-center setting. Methods: Prospective, one-armed, multi-center interventional therapeutic study. Ninety-five women with skin firmness loss were treated with four intra-dermal injection sessions in both cheeks at 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks. BCS was processed with Exokine® medical device according to manufacturer's instructions. Primary endpoints were cutometric R0 and R3 at 12 and 24 weeks. GAIS, FACE-Q TM , Patient Attractivity Self-Assessment and safety were evaluated. Results: Mean skin firmness (R0) improved significantly from baseline 0.40 mm to 0.38 mm at week 12 and to 0.36 mm at week 24. Mean skin tiring (R3) improved significantly from baseline 0.45 mm to 0.42 mm at week 12 and to 0.40 at week 24. FACE-Q TM "Satisfaction with Skin" significantly improved from baseline to weeks 12, 24 and 48. So did "Satisfaction with Facial Appearance" and "Psychological and Social Function". "Satisfaction with Decision" and "Satisfaction with Outcome" were stable at week 24 and 48. At week 48 patients assessed their age 1.68 years younger vs Baseline. FACE-Q TM aging appraisal improves from Baseline 52.94 to 65.23 at week 48. GAIS, by both physicians and patients, confirm improvement of skin. Conclusion:For up to 48 weeks four intra-dermal injections with cell-free BCS increase facial skin firmness and resilience to tiring and patients' satisfaction with their facial appearance and skin. Patients perceive their face as younger. BCS has the ability to sustainably rejuvenate facial skin safely. Study Registration: Registration on German clinical trials register: DRKS00013014.

Recent clinical trials with stem cells to slow or reverse normal aging processes

“…Compared to SC preparations, SC secretome has several advantages, including ease of manufacture, freeze-drying, packaging, and easier transportation ( Xia et al, 2019 ). In addition, the SC secretome has shown potential to counteract facial aging ( Kerscher et al, 2022 ). PT Kimia Farma Tbk (Jakarta, Indonesia; https://www.kimiafarma.co.id/ ) develops an h D-MSC secretome preparation for facial aging.…”

Approaches in line with human physiology to prevent skin aging

“…Pre-clinical data have suggested that BCS may also offer potential benefits in combating skin aging. Clinical study conducted by Kerscher et al, in 2021, demonstrated that BCS significantly improves skin firmness and hydration after 12 and 24 weeks of use (Kerscher et al, 2021). In addition to the clinical evidence, in vitro experiments conducted on a well-described skin model further support BCS as a beneficial agent for cell division and overall skin quality (Schmitt et al, 2018).…”

“…BCS involves enriching blood serum with bioactive secretions from blood cells, essential for clotting, infection prevention, wound healing, and tissue restoration. These techniques typically entail the preparation and local application of these substances to enhance skin rejuvenation and healing (Kerscher et al, 2022). BCS has demonstrated effectiveness in treating musculoskeletal disorders.…”

“…The utilization of platelet concentrates has garnered considerable interest, yet its clinical efficacy is controversial primarily due to the inherent variability in composition observed among individual patients. (Bajaj et al, 2022;Kerscher et al, 2022). To address this issue, ongoing efforts aim to define optimized protocols for using PRP in skin treatments, ensuring more reliable and predictable outcomes (Chahla et al, 2017;Bansal et al, 2021).…”

“…These approaches encompass Nutritional skin care and lifestyle habits, topical treatments in harmony with the skin's circadian rhythm (Draelos et al, 2020), endogenous antioxidant utilization, such as melatonin and natural polyphenols (Bocheva et al, 2022a), and the exploration of alternative compounds for sun protection, including naturally occurring UV-absorbing compounds (Kageyama and Waditee-Sirisattha, 2019;Alvares et al, 2022). Additionally, emerging research has been investigating the potential of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) (Wang et al, 2018), cell-free blood cell secretome (BCS) (Kerscher et al, 2022), and other endogenouslike compounds (De Tollenaere et al, 2023) to promote skin health while reducing the potential risks. By emphasizing these innovative strategies, we can pave the way for a new era in skin aging interventions, one that prioritizes safety, aligns with the body's physiological processes, and unlocks the potential for more effective and personalized anti-aging treatments.…”