Curcumin Affects Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Aging Through TERT Gene Expression.

Area of Science:

• Stem Cell Biology
• Aging Research
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cellular aging is a significant challenge in cell therapy, characterized by increased reactive oxygen species, reduced telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression, and telomere shortening.
• Antioxidants show promise in mitigating cellular aging by scavenging free radicals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of curcumin on the proliferation, aging, and TERT expression of rat adipose tissue-derived stem cells (rADSCs).

Main Methods:

• rADSCs were isolated and treated with varying curcumin concentrations.
• Cell viability (MTT assay), surface markers (flow cytometry), differentiation potential (adipogenic/osteogenic), TERT expression (real-time PCR), and senescence (SA-β-gal staining) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Curcumin (1 and 5 µM) significantly increased rADSC proliferation and reduced doubling time and aging.
• Curcumin treatment notably decreased the percentage of senescent cells in later passages.
• TERT gene expression was significantly upregulated by curcumin treatment.

Conclusions:

• Curcumin demonstrates potential in extending the lifespan of rADSCs.
• Curcumin may improve rADSC longevity by promoting TERT gene expression and reducing cellular senescence.