Beiersdorf makes new skin cell metabolism discovery to aid anti-ageing development

Together with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH), Beirsdorf scientists, Dr Janosch Hildebrand and Dr Marc Winnefeld, completed the four-year research project into how skin cells use the metabolism to protect themselves against UV-induced or oxidative stress.

The study was published in the journal Molecular Cell​​, and Beiersdorf explains that the next step will be to develop new ways to protect the skin against stress and ageing.

“The project results will be used to develop new strategies to protect skin cells against stress and to treat environmentally-induced skin ageing,”​ says Dr Winnefeld.

New discovery​

Project manager, Dr Hildebrand, explains that the team set out on its research to find out more how skin cells benefit from their metabolism and were able to unearth new information.

“We discovered a previously unknown mechanism: the ‘First Line Response.’ It enables skin cells to counteract stress caused by, for example, solar radiation or oxidative stress within minutes,”​ he says.

Hildebrand explains that this mechanism is important because it delivers key molecules to the cell which are needed for acute detoxification and repair.

In order to understand this mechanism and to holistically analyse skin metabolism, the scientists used a new metabolomics technology that enabled them to examine over 800 metabolites simultaneously.

“In addition to the new technology, systems biology analysis tools were also used,”​ continues Winnefeld, Head of the Lab for Special & Aged Skin.

“By using these techniques we were able to investigate the complex relationships between biological processes like metabolic pathways and repair mechanisms. Here, we were able to analyse big data sets by combining biology and computational science.”​

Collaboration​

The findings come off the back of a four year co-operation with ETH Zurich, having initiated this research as part of a PhD thesis in 2011, and the Nivea skin care maker was quick to praise the institute.

“This kind of demanding analysis is only possible through the expertise of external partners,”​ says Winnefeld. “With this dedicated and trustful open-innovation approach, Beiersdorf has always succeeded in working with excellent scientists from renowned institutes.”​

“The interdisciplinary way of working – both in the collaboration with ETH Zurich and here at Beiersdorf – was essential for the project’s success. Therefore I’d especially like to thank Dr. Hila Emmert, Dr. Frank Fischer and Dr. Stefan Gallinat,”​ adds Hildebrand.