Long-term treatment with N-acetylcysteine, but not caloric restriction, protects mesenchymal stem cells of aged rats against tumor necrosis factor-induced death

Exp Gerontol. 2006 Aug;41(8):800-4. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2006.05.003. Epub 2006 Jun 27.

Abstract

The survival of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) stimulation was evaluated after a long-term antioxidant treatment, or caloric restriction, in aged rats. MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of 30-month-old rats which orally received N-acetylcysteine in the last 18 months. The necrotic cell death-induced in vitro by TNFalpha, determined by trypan blue exclusion, was markedly attenuated in MSCs obtained from treated vs. control aged rats (percent mean+/-SEM: 10.9+/-2.17 vs. 17.8+/-0.53; p<0.05). Also, the proliferation rate of MSCs from control, but not N-acetylcysteine-treated, aged rats evaluated up to 2 weeks was significantly higher than that of MSCs from younger (4-month-old) rats. No significant effect was observed relative to the parameters investigated when the aged rats were previously subjected to a hypocaloric diet for 18 months. In conclusion, a prolonged supplementation with N-acetylcysteine in rats can increase resistance to necrotic death of MSCs and may also counteract an excessive rate of MSC proliferation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / pharmacology*
  • Aging / pathology*
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caloric Restriction*
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / pathology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Acetylcysteine