Cytotherapy. 2017 Jan 9. pii: S1465-3249(16)30609-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2016.12.001. [Epub ahead of print]

Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned medium exerts in vitro antiaging effects in human fibroblasts.

Li M¹, Zhao Y¹, Hao H², Dong L², Liu J², Han W³, Fu X⁴.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AIMS:

Chronic wounds are a common complication of diabetes. Fibroblast-myofibroblast differentiation is important for wound repair, which is commonly impaired in non-healing wounds, and the underlying mechanisms need to be further elucidated.

METHODS:

We used high glucose (HG) to simulated the diabetes microenvironment and explored its effects on the biological features of fibroblasts in vitro.

RESULTS:

The results showed that prolonged HG induced senescence in fibroblasts through activation of p21 and p16 in a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent manner, further delayed the viability and migration in fibroblasts and also depressed fibroblast differentiation through the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. However, mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned medium (MSC-CM) counteracts the effects of HG. Treatment of fibroblasts with MSC-CM decreased HG-induced ROS overproduction, ameliorated HG-induced senescence in fibroblasts and reversed the defects in myofibroblast formation. Our results may provide clues for the pathogenesis of chronic wounds and a theoretical basis to develop MSC-CM as an alternative therapeutic method to treatment of chronic wounds.