title: Cytotoxic effects of 4-methylimidazole on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.
abstract: 4-Methylimidazole (4-MI) is found in a great number of food products. The National Toxicology Program (NTP) revealed that 4-MI is carcinogenic and can also cause anemia and weight loss. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are able to support hematopoiesis and migrate to the site of tumors. To investigate whether 4-MI has an impact on MSCs, we have measured the ability of cell (osteoblast, adipocyte) proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, gene expression, migration and differentiation between control group and the 4-MI group. The results showed that higher concentrations of 4-MI (≥150 μg/ml) had significant effects on BMSCs viability while lower concentrations (≤100 μg/ml) had no significant effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, differentiation, and expression of relevant marker genes of hematopoietic cytokines, including TPO, SCF, VEGF and FLt3. The results also indicated that 4-MI (≤100 μg/ml) may have no significant effect on the biological characteristics of MSCs. Low concentration of 4-MI in foods and beverages have no toxic effect on BMSCs. The anemia and weight loss of animals caused by 4-MI may not be due to its effect on BMSCs.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yanling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lingxian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fangfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wenkai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xinyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiabo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaochun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
keywords: 4-methylimidazole; Mesenchymal stem cells; biological characteristics