After over 7 years of research, our team recently achieved an important milestone: getting our data published in NPJ Aging. This is significant not just for OneSkin, but for the longevity community at large, because it shows for the first time that it is possible to reverse aging in human skin. Core to this finding is our evidence that the OS-01 peptide is able to reduce biological age and senescence burden in human skin models. Because of its proven ability to block the effects of senescence while enhancing cellular renewal, OS-01 is now validated as a senotherapeutic molecule, making its development an exciting new breakthrough in the quest to promote human longevity. Curious to explore the data in our paper? We’ve summarized its key findings below.
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Finding 1: The OS-01 Peptide Reverses Skin’s Biological Age
Utilizing MolClock, OneSkin’s proprietary, peer-reviewed, skin-specific DNA methylation clock, we measured the biological age of ex vivo skin samples before and after exposure to the OS-01 peptide.
DNA methylation age of ex vivo human skin samples (79yr) treated with 12.5uM peptide for 5 days, calculated using OneSkin’s Skin-Specific DNA Methylation Clock, MolClok. OS-01 peptide treatment significantly reduced the DNA methylation age. (Zonari, A., et al, npj Aging, 2023)
Before exposure, the biological age of the skin samples measured at 70.82 years old. After exposure to the OS-01 peptide for 5 days, the biological age of the same samples measured at 68.22 years, meaning that the OS-01 peptide reduced the biological age of skin by 2.6 years in ex vivo human skin samples. [1]Besides MolClock, a reduction in the biological age of ex vivo skin treated with the OS-01 peptide was also detected using other published molecular clocks, including Horvarth Clock, Horvath Skin & Blood Clock, Hannum Clock, Lin Clock, and PhenoAge Clock, further confirming the age reversal capability of the OS-01 peptide. [1]
Ex vivo skin samples (79 yo) maintained in basal media (NT), or treated with 100 nM Rapamycin (Rapa), or 12.5 µM OS-01 peptide for 5 days. Predicted DNA age according to Horvath Clock (Clk 1), Hannum Clock (Clk 2), Lin Clock (Clk 3)Horvath Skin & Blood Clock (Clk 4), PhenoAge Clock (Clk 5) and OneSkin’s MolClock (Clk 6). (Sup. Fig. 12 Zonari, et al., npj Aging, 2023).
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Finding 2: The OS-01 Peptide Promotes a Reduction in Senescent Cells
To confirm their findings, our scientists took a look at how OS-01 impacted levels of cellular senescence, a central hallmark of aging that largely drives the skin’s biological age.Using various senescence-inducing experimental models to reproduce both intrinsic (e.g. chronologically aged) and extrinsic (e.g. UVB radiation) stimuli, our scientists looked at whether OS-01 could reduce the total number of senescent cells. [1]
SA B-Gal (senescence-associated beta galactosidase) stained image of in vitro HGPS HDFs (human dermal fibroblasts from patient-derived samples with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome) treated with 50uM OS-01 peptide for 2 days compared to untreated control. (Zonari, a., et al., npj Aging, 2023)
For their intrinsic aging experiments, our researchers obtained skin samples from patients with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, a genetic condition that causes premature skin aging with a high level of cellular senescence. Treating in vitro fibroblast cultures from these patients, our team applied senescence-associated beta galactosidase, a compound that selectively stains senescent cells blue. This made it possible to count the number of senescent cells before and after exposure to the OS-01 peptide.After 2 days of treatment, our scientists found that the samples treated with the OS-01 peptide contained up to 50% fewer senescent cells than samples that were not treated. Additionally, the total number of cells remained the same after exposure to the OS-01 peptide, showing that the OS-01 peptide promoted not just the reduction of senescent cells, but also the renewal of healthier ones. [1]Across many experimental models, the OS-01 peptide decreased the level of cellular senescence, promoting tissue rejuvenation in both 2D and 3D systems, as measured by cellular and molecular markers of aging, senescence, and DNA methylation . [1]Many skin care brands claim rejuvenation and reversing aging, but OneSkin is the only brand proven to actually do it. We hope the publication of our research in NPJ Aging will serve as a model for how evidence-based science can meet clinical efficacy in the skin health industry. Want to read more about our research? You can find our full published paper, Senotherapeutic peptide treatment reduces biological age and senescence burden in human skin models, here.
Key Takeaways:
- The OneSkin team recently published key findings on the OS-01 peptide in NPJ Aging, a highly reputable scientific journal.
- For the first time, OneSkin’s scientists show that it’s possible to reverse aging in human skin
- Not only does our publication validate our research, it's also a huge milestone in advancing the science of aging
- The research published shows that the OS-01 peptide diminishes skin’s biological age by decreasing levels of cellular senescence.
- Because of its proven ability to block the effects of senescence while enhancing cellular renewal, OS-01 is an exciting breakthrough in the quest to treat aging and extend human lifespan.
