The key hallmark of stem cells is their ability to self-renew while keeping a differentiation potential. Intrinsic and extrinsic cell factors may contribute to a decline in these stem cell properties, and this is of the most importance when culturing them. One of these factors is oxygen concentration, which has been closely linked to the maintenance of stemness. The widely used environmental 21% O2 concentration represents a hyperoxic non-physiological condition, which can impair stem cell behaviour by many mechanisms. The goal of this review is to understand these mechanisms underlying the oxygen signalling pathways and their negatively-associated consequences. This may provide a rationale for culturing stem cells under physiological oxygen concentration for stem cell therapy success, in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) are a source for cell therapy. Before implantation, an in vitro expansion step is necessary, with the inconvenience that hDPSCs undergo senescence following a certain number of passages, loosing their stemness properties. Long-term in vitro culture of hDPSCs at 21% (ambient oxygen tension) compared with 3–6% oxygen tension (physiological oxygen tension) caused an oxidative stress-related premature senescence, as evidenced by increased β-galactosidase activity and increased lysil oxidase expression, which is mediated by p16INK4a pathway. Furthermore, hDPSCs cultured at 21% oxygen tension underwent a downregulation of OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC factors, which was recued by BMI-1 silencing. Thus, p16INK4a and BMI-1 might play a role in the oxidative stress-associated premature senescence. We show that it is important for clinical applications to culture cells at physiological pO2 to retain their stemness characteristics and to delay senescence.
Immediate implant placement does not prevent the resorption of the buccal bone crest after dental extraction. Ridge preservation techniques minimize this resorption.
SummaryHigh rates of stem cell proliferation are important in regenerative medicine and in stem cell banking for clinical use. Ambient oxygen tensions (21% O2) are normally used for in vitro culture, but physiological levels in vivo range between 3% and 6% O2. We compared proliferation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) cultured under 21% versus 3% O2. The rate of hDPSC proliferation is significantly lower at 21% O2 compared to physiological oxygen levels due to enhanced oxidative stress. Under 21% O2, increased p38 phosphorylation led to activation of p21. Increased generation of reactive oxygen species and p21 led to activation of the NRF-2 signaling pathway. The upregulation of NRF-2 antioxidant defense genes under 21% O2 may interact with cell-cycle-related proteins involved in regulating cell proliferation. Activation of p38/p21/NRF-2 in hDPSCs cultured under ambient oxygen tension inhibits stem cell proliferation and upregulates NRF-2 antioxidant defenses.
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