Enhancing therapeutic efficacy of human adipose-derived stem cells by modulating photoreceptor expression for advanced wound healing

Sang Ho Lee; Yu-Jin Kim; Yeong Hwan Kim; Han Young Kim; Suk Ho Bhang

doi:10.1186/s13287-022-02892-2

Enhancing therapeutic efficacy of human adipose-derived stem cells by modulating photoreceptor expression for advanced wound healing

Stem Cell Res Ther. 2022 May 26;13(1):215. doi: 10.1186/s13287-022-02892-2.

Authors

Sang Ho Lee¹, Yu-Jin Kim¹, Yeong Hwan Kim¹, Han Young Kim², Suk Ho Bhang³

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Biomedical-Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, 14662, Republic of Korea. hy0408@catholic.ac.kr.
³ School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea. sukhobhang@skku.edu.

Abstract

Background: Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) have been widely used for regenerative medicine because of their therapeutic efficacy and differentiation capacity. However, there are still limitations to use them intactly due to some difficulties such as poor cell engraftment and viability after cell transplantation. Therefore, techniques such as photobiomodulation (PBM) are required to overcome these limitations. This study probed improved preclinical efficacy of irradiated hADSCs and its underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods: hADSCs were irradiated with green organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Treated cells were analyzed for mechanism identification and tissue regeneration ability verification. Expression levels of genes and proteins associated with photoreceptor, cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and wound healing were evaluated by performing multiple assays and immunostaining. Excision wound models were employed to test in vivo therapeutic effects.

Results: In vitro assessments showed that Opsin3 (OPN3) and OPN4 are both expressed in hADSCs. However, only OPN4 was stimulated by green OLED irradiation. Cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and growth factor expression in treated hADSCs were enhanced compared to control group. Conditioned medium containing paracrine factors secreted from irradiated hADSCs increased proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts and normal human epidermal keratinocytes. Irradiated hADSCs exerted better wound healing efficacy in vivo than hADSCs without OLED irradiation.

Conclusions: Our study introduces an intracellular mechanism of PBM in hADSCs. Our results revealed that photoreceptor OPN4 known to activate G_q-protein and consequently lead to reactive oxygen species production responded to OLED irradiation with a wavelength peak of 532 nm. In conclusion, green OLED irradiation can promote wound healing capability of hADSCs, suggesting that green OLED has potential preclinical applications.

Keywords: Human adipose-derived stem cells; Opsins; Organic light-emitting diodes; Photobiomodulation; Wound healing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adipocytes*
Adipose Tissue
Cell Differentiation / physiology
Humans
Rod Opsins / metabolism
Stem Cells* / metabolism
Wound Healing / physiology

Substances

OPN3 protein, human
Rod Opsins