Influence of maxadilan on human adipose-derived stem cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of maxadilan, which specifically activates pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide type I receptor (PAC1 receptor), on the proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation potential of human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). METHODS: ASCs from human adipose tissue were isolated by enzymatic digestion and cultured. ASCs were confirmed by the analysis of the markers for cell phenotypes by flow cytometry (FCM) and adipogenic/osteogenic induction. The effect of maxadilan on ASCs viability was analyzed by CCK-8 assay and FCM. ASCs were irradiated by ultraviolet C (UVC) at 254 nm and the absorbance of apoptotic ASCs induced by various doses of UVC was measured by CCK-8 assay. ASCs were exposed to 702 J/m² UVC for 24 h to induce apoptosis. The effect of maxadilan on ASC apoptosis was analyzed by FCM and the determination of caspase 3 and caspase 9 levels. RESULTS: Adipose-derived stem cells were confirmed by the detection of the positive expression of cell phenotypes including CD29, CD44, CD59 and CD105 by FCM. The data of CCK-8 assay revealed that ASCs treated with maxadilan (80 nmol/L) had the strongest ability of proliferation. The data of FCM also demonstrated that the addition of 80 nmol/L maxadilan to ASCs in experimental group markedly improved the proliferation capacity of the cells compared with control group (P<0.05). The apoptosis of ASCs exposed to 702 J/m² UVC was dramatically inhibited by the treatment with maxadilan (80 nmol/L). Such process involved the caspase signaling pathway including caspase 3 and caspase 9. There was statistical significance (P<0.05) between experiment group (ASCs irradiated by UVC and supplemented with maxadilan) and control group (ASCs only irradiated by UVC). Meanwhile, adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation potentials were both positive in experiment group and control group. CONCLUSION: Maxadilan promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of the ASCs. The differentiation potential of ASCs toward adipogenic and osteogenic lineages wouldn't be altered by maxadilan. Maxadilan would benefit to growth and expansion of ASCs in vitro.