Skin Rejuvenation through HIF-1alpha modulation

The constant intrinsic and extrinsic stress the skin is exposed to leads to significant impairments of the regenerative capacity of aging skin. Current skin rejuvenation approaches lack the ability to holistically support the biological processes which exhaust during aging skin degeneration, such as collagen production, cell migration and proliferation as well as new vessel formation. Similar to chronic wounds, aged skin is characterized by dysfunction of key cellular regulatory pathways impairing regeneration. Recent evidence suggests that the same mechanisms hindering a physiologic healing response in chronic wounds are the basis of impaired tissue homeostasis in aged skin. Dysfunction of a main response to injury pathway, the Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1a (HIF-1α) regulatory pathway, has been identified as pivotal both in chronic wounds and aging skin degeneration. HIF-1α signaling is significantly involved in tissue homeostasis and neovascularization resulting in the production of new collagen, elastin and nourishing blood vessels. Modulating the functionality of this pathway has been demonstrated to significantly enhance tissue regeneration. In this review, we present an overview of the regenerative effects linked to the upregulation of HIF-1α functionality, potentially resulting in skin rejuvenation on both the cellular and the tissue level. None of the authors has a financial interest in any of the products, devices, or drugs mentioned in this manuscript * These authors contributed equally to this work Conflict of Interest: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article. Corresponding Author: Dr. med. univ. Dominik Duscher, Director Division of Experimental Plastic Surgery, Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany. dominik.duscher@mri.tum.de ©2017American Society of Plastic Surgeons