Published online Dec 26, 2023. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v15.i12.1093
Peer-review started: September 28, 2023
First decision: October 23, 2023
Revised: November 11, 2023
Accepted: November 24, 2023
Article in press: November 24, 2023
Published online: December 26, 2023
Processing time: 88 Days and 19.3 Hours
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of stem cells that possess relevant regenerative abilities and can be used to treat many chronic diseases. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a frequently diagnosed chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia which initiates many multisystem complications in the long-run. DM patients can benefit from MSCs transplantation to curb down the pathological consequences associated with hyperglycemia persistence and restore the function of damaged tissues. MSCs therapeutic outcomes are found to last for short period of time and ultimately these regenerative cells are eradicated and died in DM disease model.
To investigate the impact of high glucose or hyperglycemia on the cellular and molecular characteristics of MSCs.
Human adipose tissue-derived MSCs (hAD-MSCs) were seeded in low (5.6 mmol/L of glucose) and high glucose (25 mmol/L of glucose) for 7 d. Cytotoxicity, viability, mitochondrial dynamics, and apoptosis were deplored using specific kits. Western blotting was performed to measure the protein expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), TSC1, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in these cells.
hAD-MSCs cultured in high glucose for 7 d demonstrated marked decrease in their viability, as shown by a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.01) and a significant decrease in Trypan blue (P < 0.05) in these cells compared to low glucose control. Mitochondrial membrane potential, indicated by tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) fluorescence intensity, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)/NADH ratio were significantly dropped (P < 0.05 for TMRE and P < 0.01 for NAD+/NADH) in high glucose exposed hAD-MSCs, indicating disturbed mitochondrial function. PI3K protein expression significantly decreased in high glucose culture MSCs (P < 0.05 compared to low glucose) and it was coupled with significant upregulation in TSC1 (P < 0.05) and downregulation in mTOR protein expression (P < 0.05). Mitochondrial complexes I, IV, and V were downregulated profoundly in high glucose (P < 0.05 compared to low glucose). Apoptosis was induced as a result of mitochondrial impairment and explained the poor survival of MSCs in high glucose.
High glucose impaired the mitochondrial dynamics and regulatory proteins in hAD-MSCs ensuing their poor survival and high apoptosis rate in hyperglycemic microenvironment.
Core Tip: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have significant regenerative properties that make them a potential treatment for many chronic diseases. Among these, diabetes mellitus (DM) was found to benefit from MSCs transplantation in which they restored the damaged tissues and prevented hyperglycemia-related complications. However, these therapeutic are short-lived hindering the clinical use of MSCs in the treatment of DM. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms of hyperglycemia-induced effects on MSCs which will help in improving the therapeutic functions of these cells in this stress environment.