BERKELEY, CALIF. — Researchers at the University of California’s Berkeley Lab have found that a protein linked to the spread of several human cancers may also have potential for the elimination of wrinkles and rejuvenation of the skin, reports Medical News Today. If their study is on the mark, the researchers say, treatment with controlled concentrations of the protein — dubbed RHAMM for Receptor for Hyaluronan Mediated Motility — could eventually replace surgical procedures or injections in accomplishing skin rejuvenation.

Although overexpression of RHAMM is associated with a poor patient outcome with cancer, it also plays a role in regulating fat cells while repairing tissue wounds from injuries.

According to Medical News Today, previous cancer-related studies on mice revealed that blocking the expression of the RHAMM protein — either by deleting its gene or introducing a blocking reagent — can induce the generation of fat cells to replace those lost in the aging process. At the same time, blocking RHAMM expression also reduces deposits of unhealthy visceral fat. This finding suggests that blocking RHAMM should also have a beneficial effect on patients with obesity-related diseases, cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Another unique advantage of RHAMM is that its expression in normal adult human tissues is restricted. Potential applications of RHAMM in addition to wrinkle reduction include normalizing skin appearance after reconstructive or cosmetic surgery, such as grafted tissue on burn victims. CST