Effects of Nicotine on Proliferation and Survival in Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Abstract

Cigarette smoking is known to have negative effects on tissue repair and healing. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of nicotine in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). After nicotine treatment, MSCs became pyknotic, vacuoles appeared in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and the nuclear boundary became fuzzy as observed using atomic force microscopy. Cell proliferation was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05 for all concentrations). The proportion of apoptotic MSCs was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner. The mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Nicotine-treated MSCs had a significantly higher G0/G1 ratio (P < 0.05). Peptide mass fingerprinting identified 27 proteins that were differentially expressed between MSCs with and without nicotine treatment. These nicotine exerted toxic effects on MSCs are likely related, at least in part, to the altered expression of multiple proteins that are essential to the health and proliferation of these cells.

Apoptotic effects of cigarette smoke extracts on mouse embryonic stem cells via oxidative stress

“…Exposure of short‐term cigarette smoke induced dysfunction to cell homing and cell survival of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells . An in vitro study showed that exposure of human umbilical cord blood cells to 3–9 mM nicotine decreased cell proliferation in a dose dependent manner and increased apoptosis . In addition, an in vivo study showed that the proliferation capacity of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from chronic smokers was about 2.5‐fold less than that from non‐smokers .…”

“…26 An in vitro study showed that exposure of human umbilical cord blood cells to 3-9 mM nicotine decreased cell proliferation in a dose dependent manner and increased apoptosis. 27 In addition, an in vivo study showed that the proliferation capacity of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from chronic smokers was about 2.5-fold less than that from non-smokers. 28 These findings indicate that short-term or long-term exposure to cigarette smoke or its components can have cytotoxic effects on or reduce the proliferation rate of stem cells.…”

Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells: predictive obstetric factors for cell proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation

“…This could be related to the decrease in Sox-9 expression during nicotine exposure and would be consistent with the impaired Sox-9 expression that we observed in smoking mothers. Several studies evaluated the effect of supplementing MSC cultures with various amounts of nicotine on MSC proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation [43–45]. Concerning chondrogenic differentiation from adult MSC, two studies screening different specific markers of chondrogenesis only reported one (type II collagen or aggrecan) increased in the presence of various concentrations of nicotine [43, 44].…”

“…Concerning chondrogenic differentiation from adult MSC, two studies screening different specific markers of chondrogenesis only reported one (type II collagen or aggrecan) increased in the presence of various concentrations of nicotine [43, 44]. Concerning proliferation, Ying et al showed that nicotine promotes BM-MSC proliferation [43] whereas Zeng et al reported decreased proliferation of MSC from the umbilical cord in the presence of nicotine in a dose-dependent manner [45]. These contradictory findings may result from experimental conditions as in vivo studies report long nicotine impregnation during pregnancy whereas in vitro studies report only occasional administrations.…”

Concise Review: The Deleterious Effects of Cigarette Smoking and Nicotine Usage and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Function and Implications for Cell-Based Therapies

“…In vitro, human umbilical cord blood cells exposed to 0.5–1.5 mg/ml nicotine (3–9 mM) showed dose‐dependent decreases in proliferation and increases in apoptosis ( p < .05 for all concentrations) . Significant decreases in proliferation have also been observed at concentrations as low as 0.1–10 µM ( p < .05) .…”