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Potentiation of biological effects of mesenchymal stem cells in ischemic conditions by melatonin via upregulation of cellular prion protein expression
Author(s) -
Lee Jun Hee,
Han YongSeok,
Lee Sang Hun
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/jpi.12385
Subject(s) - melatonin , downregulation and upregulation , mesenchymal stem cell , oxidative stress , apoptosis , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer research , immunology , biology , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , gene
Mesenchymal stem cells ( MSC s) are promising candidates for stem cell‐based therapy in ischemic diseases. However, ischemic injury induces pathophysiological conditions, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, which diminish therapeutic efficacy of MSC ‐based therapy by reducing survival and functionality of transplanted MSC s. To overcome this problem, we explored the effects of melatonin on the proliferation, resistance to oxidative stress, and immunomodulatory properties of MSC s. Treatment with melatonin enhanced MSC proliferation and self‐renewal via upregulation of cellular prion protein (Pr P C ) expression. Melatonin diminished the extent of MSC apoptosis in oxidative stress conditions by regulating the levels of apoptosis‐associated proteins, such as BCL ‐2, BAX , PARP ‐1, and caspase‐3, in a Pr P C ‐dependent manner. In addition, melatonin regulated the immunomodulatory effects of MSC s via the Pr P C ‐ IDO axis. In a murine hind‐limb ischemia model, melatonin‐stimulated MSC s improved the blood flow perfusion, limb salvage, and vessel regeneration by lowering the extent of apoptosis of affected local cells and transplanted MSC s as well as by reducing infiltration of macrophages. These melatonin‐mediated therapeutic effects were inhibited by silencing of Pr P C expression. Our findings for the first time indicate that melatonin promotes MSC functionality and enhances MSC ‐mediated neovascularization in ischemic tissues through the upregulation of Pr P C expression. In conclusion, melatonin‐treated MSC s could provide a therapeutic strategy for vessel regeneration in ischemic disease, and the targeting of Pr P C levels may prove instrumental for MSC ‐based therapies.