Apple Extract May Promote Stem Cell Regeneration

Adult stem cells have significant potential as treatment for many degenerative diseases. Age negatively affects proliferation status and differentiation potential of ASCs according to studies, which suggests a possible limitation in their potential therapeutic use. The team hypothesized apple extract may exert beneficial effects on ASCs.

Apple extract was found to promote proliferation of ADSCs and CB-MSCs through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and Click-iT 5-ethynyl-2?-deoxyuridine flow cytometry assays. Apple extract also induced stepwise phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK, mTOR, p70 S6 kinase, S6RP, eukaryotic initiation factor, and alF4E in human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Apple extract significantly induced production of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-6 in adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells and human cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Pretreatment with PD98059 inhibited phosphorylation of the mTOR/p70S6K/S6RP/eIF4B/eIF4E pathway induced by apple extract. Proliferation of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells under serum free conditions was found to be mediated by ERK-dependent cytokine production.

The research team concluded that beneficial effects of apple extract on proliferation of adult stem cells may overcome the limitation in their therapeutic use in tissue regeneration and maintenance of stem cell homeostasis based on their findings.