α-Tocopherol Acetate Attenuates Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption and Maintains Primitive Cells within Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Population

Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2021 Aug;17(4):1390-1405. doi: 10.1007/s12015-020-10111-9. Epub 2021 Jan 28.

Abstract

We present here the data showing, in standard cultures exposed to atmospheric O2 concentration, that alpha-tocopherol acetate (α-TOA) has a positive impact on primitive cells inside mesenchymal stromal cell (MstroC) population, by maintaining their proliferative capacity. α-TOA decreases the O2 consumption rate of MStroC probably by impacting respiratory chain complex II activity. This action, however, is not associated with a compensatory increase in glycolysis activity, in spite of the fact that the degradation of HIF-1α was decreased in presence of α-TOA. This is in line with a moderate enhancement of mtROS upon α-TOA treatment. However, the absence of glycolysis stimulation implies the inactivity of HIF-1α which might - if it were active - be related to the maintenance of stemness. It should be stressed that α-TOA might act directly on the gene expression as well as the mtROS themselves, which remains to be elucidated. Alpha-tocopherol acetate (α-TOA), a synthetic vitamin E ester, attenuates electron flow through electron transport chain (ETC) which is probably associated with a moderate increase in mtROS in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells. α-TOA action results in enhancement of the proliferative capacity and maintenance of the differentiation potential of the mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells.

Keywords: Alpha-tocopherol acetate; Electron transport chain; HIF-1α; MPC; MSC; MStroC; mtROS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells* / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells* / metabolism
  • Mitochondria* / metabolism
  • Oxygen / metabolism*
  • alpha-Tocopherol* / pharmacology

Substances

  • alpha-Tocopherol
  • Oxygen