Peculiarities of the metabolic activity of mesenchimal stem cells under oxidative stress

Abstract

Aim. Oxidative stress is considered to be one of the major damaging factors that limits the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The purpose of our work was to study the metabolic activity of Wharton jelly-derived MSC of different donor origin under oxidative stress conditions induced by hydrogen peroxide. Methods. MSC were obtained by the explant method and cultured according to standard methods. Oxidative stress was caused by treating cells with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. The metabolic activity of MSCs was evaluated using the MTT test. Results. Analysis of the MTT test showed a biphasic dependence of the MSC response to the concentration of H2O2. Concentrations of hydrogen peroxide from 6.25 to 50 μM increased the level of metabolic activity of MSCs, and concentrations from 50 to 440 μM inhibited metabolic activity. The maximum stimulating effect was observed at concentrations of 12.5 μM and 25 μM depending on the donor. Conclusions. The response of cells to oxidative stress corresponded to the hormetic dependence, and the points of critical concentration and maximum stimulation were individual for each donor. Processes such as preconditioning MSCs with hydrogen peroxide to increase their survival rate during transplantation also require personalization of the approach depending on the points of maximum stimulation.
 Keywords: mesenchymal stem cells, hydrogen peroxide, oxidative stress.