Obesity and Mesenchymal Stem Cell’s Mitochondria Dysfunction
Obesity and Mesenchymal Stem Cell’s Mitochondria Dysfunction
Sheyda Homayoon,1,*
1. Department of Medical Genetics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells found in several types of tissues. They carry out a natural repair system within the body. MSCs have unique features, including being easy to isolate and their ability to migrate to injured areas. They exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties in damaged tissues and can modulate the immune response through paracrine signaling. Additionally, they have an antimicrobial effect. MSCs can also activate other local stem cells and promote angiogenesis. MSCs have become a major focus in recent research because of their biological importance and potential clinical uses.
Obesity is a worldwide issue that considerably damages healthcare systems economically and is linked to higher rates of cardiovascular diseases and deaths. Obesity declines the immunomodulatory capabilities of MSCs. However, the exact mechanisms behind this impairment are still unclear.
The viability, compatibility, self-renewal, and differentiation potential of MSCs depend heavily on the health and performance of their mitochondria. These organelles not only generate cellular energy but also regulate key cellular functions such as the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell proliferation, survival, and apoptosis.
Methods: A comprehensive article search was conducted using the PubMed database to identify relevant studies about mitochondrial changes in obese MSCs. Keywords such as “obesity” and “mesenchymal stem cells” and “mitochondrial dysfunction” were used to find articles published between 2020 and 2024.
Results: Obesity causes alterations in the hydroxymethylation and mRNA profiles of genes related to mitochondria in MSCs derived from human adipose tissue.
Conclusion: These findings could help in creating new strategies using epigenetic modulators and mitoprotective drugs to maintain the therapeutic effectiveness of MSCs in obese individuals. Additional research is required to develop and test methods for managing the obesity-related epigenetic environment of MSCs in living organisms.