A Novel Cyanobacterial Ligand for Human L-selectin Extracted from
Aphanizomenon Flos Aquae (AFA) – Potential Role for Stem Cell Biology
in Vitro and in Vivo?
by Christian
Drapeau, MSc
INTRODUCTION:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in
vivo effects of StemEnhance®, an extract from Aphanizomenon flos-aquae
(AFA) enriched for a novel ligand for human L-selectin, on stem
cell physiology. L-selectin is a cell adhesion molecules involved
in cellular migration, cellular adhesion, and the retention versus
release of bone marrow stem cells into the blood circulation. Stimulation
of L-selectin leads to the externalization of pre-formed CXCR4 chemokine
receptors, which are specific for the chemokine Stromal Derived
Factor-1 (SDF-1)). Binding to SDF-1 to CXCR4 leads to the externalization
of adhesion molecules that anchor the stem cell in the bone marrow.
SDF-1 acts as a potent attractant for stem cells and therefore assists
in retaining stem cells within the bone marrow environment. It was
demonstrated that any interference with the CXCR4/SDF-1 axis is
one of several contributing mechanisms involved in the release of
stem cells from the bone marrow. Therefore, any compound that interferes
with CXCR4 or SDF-1 has the potential of acting as a stem cell mobilizer.
...
Consumption of StemEnhance® resulted in a transient increase
of circulating CD34+ cells.
As previously described in the scientific literature, L-selectin
blockers have the potential of being effective stem cell mobilizers
by modulating the CXCR4/SDF-1 axis. Therefore, we tested the mobilizing
ability of the AFA L-selectin ligand in humans. Using a double-blind
cross-over paradigm, the level of circulating CD34+ stem cells was
compared in 15 individuals before and after ingestion of 1 gram
of StemEnhance® or placebo. StemEnhance® (STEMTech HealthSciences,
Inc., CA) is a proprietary blend of the cytoplasmic and cell wall-rich
fractions of the whole plant biomass, enriched approximately 5-fold
in content of the L-selectin ligand compared to the raw AFA biomass.
Consumption of StemEnhance® resulted in a 25 ± 1% increase in the
number of circulating stem cells at 60 minutes (p< 0.0001). The
number of circulating CD34+ stem cells returned to baseline level
around 3-4 hours after consumption. This was in contrast to placebo,
which resulted in only minor fluctuations of the levels of CD34+
cells in the blood circulation over 2 hours.
In order to test the repeatability of the effect of consumption
of StemEnhance® on the levels of CD34+ cells in the peripheral blood,
16 separate experiments were performed on one volunteer. The average
increase in the number of circulating stem cells was 53 ± 16%, with
a median of 36% and a highest and lowest increase of 233% and -4%,
respectively).
For details, download (PDF):
Medical Study Summary
- Potential Role for Stem Cell Biology in Vitro and in Vivo
(To download, right-click on the link, choose 'Save Target (or
Link) As,' and save into your computer.)
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See also:
- Stem Cells and StemEnhance®
by Christian Drapeau, MSc (video)
- Summary of Triple-Blind Study
- Product description
- The Story of StemEnhance®
- Published paper in Medical Hypotheses
journal
StemTech and its distributors do not make
any claims that StemEnhance® can cure, mitigate, treat or prevent
any disease. If you believe that you have a health problem, see
your doctor or health professional immediately.
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