Curcumin and clovamide protect mesenchymal stem cells from oxidative stress

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation can improve tissue repair but they have low survival, partial engraftment and migration. Herein we studied if it was possible to increase the grafting potential of MSC line m17.ASC (1) derived from mouse adipose tissue, grown both in monolayers and 3D spheroids (2). We induced peroxide oxidative stress and studied the molecular events modulated by two known protective molecules, curcumin and clovamide. Pretreatments had no effects on proliferative potential (MTT assay, trypan blue count), but counteracted apoptosis (Annexin V/Propidium iodide assay), as well as Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 activation and P53 phosphorylation (Western-Blot analyses) induced by H2O2 treatment. We  evaluated the modification in the expression of some key genes involved in oxidative stress and apoptosis (QPCR). Curcumin and clovamide pre-conditioned cells showed a gene expression profile similar to the untreated controls and prevented H2O2 gene expression modifications. Dose ranges and duration of the treatments were crucial in the determination of the protective effects. These results indicate a possible role of these molecules in protecting MSC in an oxidative tissue microenvironment, and in preserving cell graft potential.