Professor Madalene Heng, MD Presents Curcumin-Targeted Signaling Pathways: Basis for Repair of Burns and Photoaging Skin at A4M

• Rejuvenation Science^® invited Professor Madalene Heng, MD to speak at the 2011 American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A⁴M) 19th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging and Biomedical Technologies in Orlando, FL.
• On April 9, 2011, UCLA School of Medicine Professor Madalene Heng, MD presented "Curcumin-Targeted Signaling Pathways: Basis for Repair of Burns & Photoaging Skin."
• More than 50% of the physician audience remained after the presentation to ask questions.

• Concluding with a series of clinical before and after photos, Dr. Heng showed rapid repair with perfect regeneration in both acute injury (burns) and chronic injury (photodamaged skin). PsoriaGold, developed by Dr. Heng provides the patented formulation used in her clinical work.

Abstract

Acute injury to the skin from burns and scalds result in blistering, and scarring, while chronic solar exposure from ultraviolet injury (UVA and UVB) result in photoaging, with thinning of the skin, red, scaly skin, pigmentary changes, loss of elasticity, and premalignant and malignant changes. Acute burns, if severe, frequently require skin grafting, with scarring as an inevitable result, while we have yet to find adequate preventive treatment against the changes in photoaging skin.

Recent interest has been focused on curcumin,a phosphorylase kinase inhibitor, for the repair of both acute burns, and chronically photodamaged skin through inhibition of NF-kB-dependent pathways mediated by phosphorylase kinase. We discuss phosphorylase kinase-mediated signaling pathways targeted by curcumin as a basis for stimulating repair of both acute burns and chronic solar skin damage, and present a clinical series supporting the efficacy of topical curcumin gel in burns and photoaging skin.

***Photodamaged skin with advanced actinic keratosis and severe solar elastosis (upper panel) improved after 6 months with topical curcumin gel (Psoria-Gold) applied twice daily (lower panel). Note resolution of both the actinic keratosis and improvement in solar elastosis.***

Summary

Acute injury to the skin from burns and scalds result in blistering, and scarring, while chronic solar exposure from ultraviolet injury (UVA and UVB) result in photoaging, with thinning of the skin, red, scaly skin, pigmentary changes, loss of elasticity, and premalignant and malignant changes. Acute burns, if severe, frequently require skin grafting, with scarring as an inevitable result, while we have yet to find adequate preventive treatment against the changes in photoaging skin. Recent interest has been focused on topical curcumin (Psoria-Gold), a phosphorylase kinase inhibitor, for the repair of both acute burns, and chronically photodamaged skin through inhibition of NF-kB-dependent pathways mediated by phosphorylase kinase.

In injured skin resulting in DNA damage, the DNA-damage response severely suppresses cell proliferation by causing cell cycle arrest. This impairs the healing process. We have found that curcumin gel, by selectively enhancing apoptosis in damaged cells through inhibition of phosphorylase kinase, results in rapid removal of the damaged cells, thus overcoming the inhibitory effects of the DNA damaged cells in causing cell cycle arrest. The removal of the damaged cells allows room for proliferation of new healthy cells, resulting in rapid repair with perfect regeneration in both acute injury (burns) and chronic injury (photodamaged skin).

Career Highlights

Madalene C.Y. Heng MD, FRACP, FACD, FAAD

Clinical Professor of Medicine/Dermatology, UCLA School of Medicine,1990 - present

Dermatologist, Centers for Family Health, Oxnard, CA,Mar, 2006 –present

Associate Professor of Medicine/Dermatology, UCLA School of Medicine,1984 - 1990

Chief, Division of Dermatology, Veterans Administration MedicalCenter, Sepulveda, CA., Oct 1979-Jan 2003

Author of over 70 published articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Editorial Boards:

• Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1985 to present

• American Journal of Geriatric Medicine, 1988 to present

• International Journal of Angiology, 1994 to present

• Lancet, London, 1995 to present

• International Journal of Dermatology, 2009 to present

M.B., B.S. (MD) 1967 University of Singapore

CERTIFICATION 1968 Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates

M.R.A.C.P. 1971 Member, Royal Australasian College of Physicians

M.A.C.D. 1973 Member, Australasian College of Dermatologists

F.R.A.C.P. 1975 Fellow, Australasian College of Physicians

F.A.C.D. 1976 Fellow, Australasian College of Dermatologists

FLEX 1976 Federation Licensing Examination

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