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Oleoylethanolamide protects mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) from oxidative stress and reduces adipogenic related genes expression in adipose-derived MSCs undergoing adipocyte differentiation

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Abstract

Background

Human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hMSCs) are known for their pronounced therapeutic potential; however, they are still applied in limited clinical cases for several reasons. ROS-mediated oxidative stress is among the chief causes of post-transplantation apoptosis and death of hMSCs. It has been reported that a strategy to protect hMSCs against ROS is to pretreat them with antioxidants. Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is a monounsaturated fatty acid derived from oleic acid and it has many protective properties, including anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. OEA is also used as a weight loss supplement; due to its high affinity for the PPAR-α receptor, OEA increases the fat metabolism rate.

Methods and results

This study hence assessed the effects of OEA pretreatment on the in vitro survival rate and resistance of hMSCs under oxidative stress as well as the cellular and molecular events in the biology of stem/stromal cells affected by oxidative stress and free radicals. Considering the role of MSCs in adipogenesis and obesity, the expression of the main genes involved in adipogenesis was also addressed in this study. Results revealed that OEA increases the in vitro proliferation of MSCs and inhibits cell apoptosis by reducing the induction of oxidative stress. The results also indicated that OEA exerts its antioxidant properties by both activating the Nrf2/NQO-1/HO-1 signaling pathway and directly combating free radicals. Moreover, OEA can reduce adipogenesis through reducing the expression of PPARγ, leptin and CEBPA genes in hMSCs undergoing adipocyte differentiation.

Conclusions

Thus, OEA protects hMSCs from oxidative stress and reduces adipogenic related genes expression and can be regarded as a therapeutic agent for this purpose.

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Data availability

No data associated in the manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

The authors like to acknowledge the financial and technical support provided by the Dietary Supplements & Probiotic Research Center at Alborz University of Medical Sciences. The authors also like to acknowledge Dr. abolfazl barzegari for his technical assistant for this study.

Funding

The authors have not disclosed any funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Fereshteh Zare

  2. Men’s Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard

  3. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Atefeh Shamosi & Shahrzad Pahlavan

  4. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Hossein Mahboudi & Afsaneh Tavasoli

  5. Dietary Supplements and Probiotic Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Solat Eslami

  6. Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Solat Eslami

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  1. Fereshteh Zare
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  2. Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
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Contributions

SE and FZ developed the idea. SE acquired funding, conceived and directed the project. FZ set up the study, carried out cellular and molecular tests with contributions from AS, SP, HM and AT. FZ prepared the first draft of the article, and completed writing with contributions from SG-F. SE revised and completed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Solat Eslami.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study protocol was approved by the ethical committee of Alborz University of Medical Sciences (IR.ABZUMS.REC.1400.200). All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.

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Zare, F., Ghafouri-Fard, S., Shamosi, A. et al. Oleoylethanolamide protects mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) from oxidative stress and reduces adipogenic related genes expression in adipose-derived MSCs undergoing adipocyte differentiation. Mol Biol Rep 51, 33 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-023-08929-w

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