Cytoprotective effects of antioxidant supplementation

What is it about?

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are earmarked as perfect candidates for cell therapy ‎and tissue engineering due to their capacity to differentiate into different cell types. ‎However, their potential for application in regenerative medicine declines when the ‎levels of the reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS) increase from the physiological ‎levels, a phenomenon which is at least inevitable in ex-vivo cultures and air-exposed ‎damaged tissues. Increased levels of RONS can alter the patterns of osteogenic and ‎adipogenic differentiation and inhibit proliferation, as well. Besides, oxidative stress ‎enhances senescence and cell death, thus lowering the success rates of the MSC ‎engraftment. Hence, in this review, we have selected some representatives of ‎antioxidants and newly emerged nano antioxidants in three main categories, including ‎chemical compounds, biometabolites, and protein precursors/proteins, which are ‎proved to be effective in the treatment of MSCs. We will focus on how antioxidants can ‎be applied to optimize the clinical usage of the MSCs and their associated signaling ‎pathways. We have also reviewed several paralleled properties of some antioxidants ‎and nano antioxidants which can be simultaneously used in real‏-‏time imaging, ‎scaffolding techniques, and other applications in addition to their primary antioxidative function.‎

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Why is it important?

• High levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) will reduce the ‎therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).‎ • Antioxidant supplementations can reduce oxidative and nitrosative stress and ‎promote the clinical applications of MSCs.‎ • Successful application of MSCs in regenerative medicine and cell therapy is ‎dependent on a well-tuned and optimized preprocessing of these cells.‎ • Based on their physicochemical properties, different antioxidant systems‏ ‏have ‎various effects on MSCs, such as reducing the apoptosis rate, hindering anoikis ‎and autophagy, as well as protecting telomere shortening.‎ • Antioxidants are dose‏-‏dependent, and large amounts of them can be toxic‏.‏ • Some of the antioxidants can be simultaneously used in real‏-‏time imaging, ‎scaffolding techniques, and other applications besides their primary role as an ‎antioxidant.‎ • Nanotechnology has not only helped to improve the antioxidative properties of ‎the conventional antioxidant but also came to introduce new emerging ‎nanomaterials with the superb antioxidative properties.‎

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