The ability of H2O2 to induce differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes

Cartilage disorders may deteriorate following oxidative stress injuries affecting mature chondrocytes. Meantime, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into chondrocytes in the presence of oxidative conditions and act as a source of compensation for injured chondrocytes. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of H2O2 on MSCs differentiation into chondrocytes in order to cast light on the dual roles of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of diseases.
Human mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from abdominal adipose tissue of three different donors and cultured in the presence of 50 mM H2O2 in order to differentiate into chondrocytes. We determined cell viability by tetrazolium assay and measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) level by flow cytometry. Presence of glycoseaminoglycans was confirmed by safranin staining.
The percentage of cells containing ROS was significantly higher in the cells treated with hydrogen peroxide (29.2% ± 1) compared to that in the untreated control cells (7.7% ± 1.4). A significant increase in glycoseaminoglycan content was observed in H2O2 treated cells compared to that in the control cells both on the 9th day (treated: 1.57×104 ± 0.1 vs control: 0.91×104 ± 0.09) and 21st day (treated: 2.87×104 ± 0.2 vs control: 0.96×104 ± 0.07). In addition, comparison of glycoseaminoglycan content on the 9th and 21st days showed a significantly higher content in both treated and control cells on the 21st day (p Hydrogen peroxide resulted in increased differentiation of adipose tissue-derived MSCs into chondrocytes. Therefore, we concluded that, oxidative stress had positive role in the induction of chondrocyte differentiation.