Transforming Growth Factor Beta 3 (TGF-b3), also known as sh-Polypeptide- 5 — My new personal favorite protein (encoded by the TGFB3 gene) is making waves in skincare in the field of wound healing. (See microneedling and microchanneling). TGF-beta 3 enhances glycosaminoglycan production by mesenchymal stromal cells and stimulates scar-free healing.
In the following study, Occleston, Nicholas & Laverty, Hugh & O'Kane, Sharon & Ferguson, Mark. (2008). “Prevention and reduction of scarring in the skin by Transforming Growth Factor beta 3 (TGFbeta3): from laboratory discovery to clinical pharmaceutical,” Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition. 19. 1047-63. 10.1163/156856208784909345, it was found: “We have identified Transforming Growth Factor beta 3 (TGFbeta3) as a key regulator of the scar-free phenotype in embryonic healing. Exogenous addition of TGFbeta3 to cutaneous wounds in pre-clinical (adult) in vivo models reduces early extracellular matrix deposition and these molecules are deposited with a markedly improved architecture in the neodermis, resembling that of normal skin. This improvement of structural organization in the healing wound is self-propagating and leads to a reduction of subsequent scarring. TGFbeta3 has completed safety studies and entered human clinical trials. Data from these studies have demonstrated that TGFbeta3 in humans is safe and well tolerated.