beaucell :: regenerative beauty therapy


		The role of telomeres in aging Aging occurs by a progressive decline in the number and/or functionality of stem cells. The cells die when the DNA strands that twirl together to form our chromosomes loosen up and unwind. This 'loosening up' is prevented by a knot in the DNA called a telomere, and the glue that binds it is called telomerase. The ends of chromosomes are formed by this special DNA knot-type structure, known as the telomere, which is essential to protect chromosome-ends from breaking down during repair activities. This is similar to a knot at the end of a rope that prevents fraying. The more fraying that happens at chromosome-ends, the quicker the cell dies. Telomerase is the protein that keeps the knot firmly in place, like glue, and its production is restricted mostly to stem cells. The fact that telomerase activity is largely restricted to stem cells suggests that telomerase levels in these cells may determine how long, and how well, we live. Telomerase activity in stem cells is sufficient to prevent telomere shortening with aging up to a point. However, with our ever-increasing ability to live longer and our exposure to severe aging elements all around us, stem cells do not have sufficient telomerase to prevent telomere shortening that is associated with continuous tissue renewal. Therefore there is a need to boost the number of stem cells in adulthood. When diseases arise that cause mutations in telomerase components, the result is premature loss of tissue renewal and early death. When telomere deficiency occurs in stem cell that repairs skin we lose the repair activity as illustrated in the figure below. The conclusion can be derived that infusion of stem cells, maintained by RegAmp™, results in improved tissue fitness and therefore increased longevity and a greater pool from which our immune systems can draw on in times of stress. Derived from Current Opinion in Cell Biology 2006, 18:254-260 For more about the beauty of stem cell therapy, speak to Beaucell, global leaders in the field of anti-aging and beauty.