Abstract: The present invention includes peptides, compositions as well as their use for the prevention or treatment of various age related or pathological conditions of skin or other tissues including skin wrinkles, wounds, different types of fibrosis and methods of reconstructing different tissues such as techniques used in regenerative medicine. The invention further includes peptide mimetics and methods of use including interfering with transcriptional complexes characteristic of fibroblasts of aged skin and stimulating synthesis of structural components of extracellular matrix.

Abstract: The cellular response to cosmetic products has been characterized on the molecular level through the use of gene and protein expression technologies. Nucleic acid and protein molecules, the expression of which are induced or repressed in response to exposure to cosmetics, are identified according to a temporal pattern of altered expression post exposure. Methods are disclosed that utilized these cosmetics-regulated molecules as markers for effectiveness of cosmetics. Other screening methods of the invention are designed for the identification of compounds that modulate the response of a cell to exposure to cosmetics. The invention also provides compositions useful for drug screening or pharmaceutical purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for generating dopaminergic neurons in vitro from embryonic and adult central nervous system cells. Specifically, these cells are isolated, cultured in vitro and stimulated to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons by down-regulating COUP-TFI and/or COUP-TFII expression or increasing NOT1 expression. These newly generated dopaminergic neurons may serve as an excellent source for cell replacement therapy in neurological disorders in which the dopaminergic system is compromised.