Glucose-induced replicative senescence in mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show great promise for use in a variety of cell-based therapies. Because isolated primary mesenchymal stem cells are low in numbers, in vitro expansion is necessary. However, the expansion potential is limited and in vitro aging leads to loss of multipotency and replicative senescence. Stress induced by culture conditions is likely to be a major cause of replicative senescence and reduced multipotency of MSC and optimization of culture conditions might be able to reduce this. Caloric restriction (CR) is the only established method to delay aging and extend lifespan. In vitro caloric restriction experiments are rare, but have demonstrated beneficial effects. Therefore, we investigated the effect of culture medium glucose concentration on the proliferative and differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells. Reduction in glucose concentrations led to decreased apoptosis and an increased rate of MSC proliferation and increased the number and size of fibroblastic colonies in the colony-forming unit assay.