Increased DNA damage of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells under inflammatory conditions

Abstract

Cells have evolved various DNA repair mechanisms to prevent DNA damage from building up. Malfunctions during DNA repair can influence cellular homeostasis because they can bring on genomic instability through the improper recognition of DNA damage or dysregulation of the repair process. Maintaining proper DNA repair is also essential for stem cells (SCs), as they provide a differentiated cell population to the living organism. SCs are regularly used in personalized stem cell therapy. Patients must be treated with specific activators to produce these SCs effectively. This report investigated the impact of treating mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) with lipopolysaccharide, tumor necrosis factor, interferon-gamma, polyinosinic acid, interleukin 1 beta, while monitoring their transcription-related response using next-generation sequencing. RNA sequencing revealed robust gene expression changes, including those of specific genes encoding proteins implicated in DNA damage response. Stem cells can effectively repair specific DNA damages; moreover, they fail to undergo senescence or cell death when genetic lesions accumulate. Here, we draw attention to an elevated DNA repair activation following MSC induction, which may be the main reason for the ineffective stem cell transplantation and may also contribute to the genetic drift that can initiate tumor formation.