EFFECTS OF N-ACETYL-CYSTEINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON EX-VIVO CLONOGENICITY AND OXIDATIVE PROFILE OF LINEAGE-COMMITTED HEMATOPOIETIC STEM/PROGENITOR CELLS

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are exposed to oxidative damage acquired during ex vivo expansion which affects their therapeutic potency. Efforts to overcome this limitation includes the use of antioxidants. The effects of N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) supplementation for 48 hours on maintenance of ex vivo HSPCs was investigated by examining the cell viability at concentrations of 0.125 µM, 0.25 µM, 0.5 µM, 1.0 µM and 2.0 µM, followed by clonogenicity and oxidative status assessments of lineage-committed progenitors (myeloid, erythroid and pre-B lymphoid) at selected NAC concentrations (0.25 µM, 0.5 µM, 2.0 µM). NAC supplementation significantly (p< 0.05) enhanced viability of HSPC at 0.25 µM, 0.5 µM, 2.0 µM.  The clonogenicity of each progenitor was not affected as no significant changes of Colony Forming Units (CFUs) counts was noted between NAC-supplemented group than control. NAC showed no significant effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels of respective progenitors as compared to control. Conclusively, NAC shows potential property as antioxidant supplement for ex vivo maintenance of HSPCs by promoting survivability and maintaining clonogenicity.