Title:Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Caspase Expression in Molt-4 Leukemia Cells Via GSK-3α/Β and ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways as a Therapeutic Strategy
Volume: 21
Issue: 1
Author(s): Ezzatollah Fathi*Ilja Vietor*
Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz,Iran
- Institute of Cell Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Biocenter, Innsbruck,Austria
Keywords:
Mesenchymal stem cells, caspase 8 and 9, apoptosis, GSK-3α/β and ERK1/2 signaling pathways, stem cell-based
therapy.
Abstract:
Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered an interesting tool in cell
therapy due to their unique features such as self-renewal, multi-potency, and pluripotency. The multifunctional
properties of these cells are being investigated in many studies. The current research examined
the influence of MSCs on the Molt-4 cell line as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
cells.
Methods: MSCs were cultured, characterized, and co-cultured with Molt-4 cells in a trans-well system.
Then, cultured Molt-4 alone and Molt-4 co-cultured with MSCs (10:1) were collected on day
7 and subjected to western blotting for protein expression assessment. Telomerase activity as well
as cell senescence, were investigated by PCR-ELISA TRAP assay and β-galactosidase activity measurement,
respectively.
Results: It was found that MSCs resulted in a significant increase in the pro-caspase-8 and
cleaved-caspase 8 and 9 expression levels. Furthermore, protein expression levels of GSK-3α/β
and ERK1/2 were significantly decreased. The results also showed that MSCs caused significant decreases
and increases in telomerase and β-galactosidase enzyme activity of Molt-4 cells, respectively.
Conclusion: It was concluded that MSCs co-cultured with Molt-4 cells could be involved in the
promotion of Molt-4 cell apoptosis and cell senescence via caspase-8, 9 cascade and GSK-3α/β
and ERK1/2 signaling pathways.
