title: Effect of ascorbic acid on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow are an important tool in tissue engineering and cell-based therapies because of their multipotent capacity. Majority of studies on MSCs have investigated the roles of growth factors, cytokines, and hormones. Antioxidants such as ascorbic acid can be used to expand MSCs while preserving their differentiation ability. Moreover, ascorbic acid can also stimulate MSC proliferation without reciprocal loss of phenotype and differentiation potency. In this study, we evaluated the effects of ascorbic acid on the proliferation, differentiation, extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion of MSCs. The MSCs were cultured in media containing various concentrations (0-500 microM) of L-ascorbate-2-phosphate (Asc-2-P) for 2 weeks, following which they were differentiated into adipocytes and osteoblasts. Ascorbic acid stimulated ECM secretion (collagen and glycosaminoglycan) and cell proliferation. Moreover, the phenotypes of the experimental groups as well as the differentiation potential of MSCs remained unchanged. The apparent absence of decreased cell density or morphologic change is consistent with the toxicity observed with 5-250 microM concentrations of Asc-2-P. The results demonstrate that MSC proliferation or differentiation depends on ascorbic acid concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Dongguk University, 3-26 Pil Dong, Choong-Gu, Seoul 100-715, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young-Kwon
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Hee-Hoon
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Kye-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Soon-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Hwa-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung-Keug
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid