Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species in the Fate of Stem Cells

Abstract

Significance: Stem cells are characterized by the properties of self-renewal and the ability to differentiate into multiple cell types, and thus maintain tissue homeostasis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a natural byproduct of aerobic metabolism and have roles in cell signaling. Regulation of ROS has a vital role in maintaining ''stemness'' and differentiation of the stem cells, as well as in progression of stem-cell-associated diseases. Recent Advances: As of late, much research has been done on the adverse effects of ROS in stem cells. However, recently it has become apparent that in some cases redox status of the stem cell does have a role in maintaining its identity as such. Both pluripotent and multipotent stem cell types have been reported to possess enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms for detoxification of ROS and to correct oxidative damage to the genome as well as the proteome. Critical Issues: Although context dependent and somewhat varied among different stem cell types, the correlation seems to exist between antioxidant defense level and stem cell fate change (i.e., proliferation, differentiation, and death). Changes in stem cell redox regulation may affect the pathogenesis of various human diseases. Future Directions: Dissecting the defined roles of ROS in distinct stem cell types will greatly enhance their basic and translational applications. Here, we discuss the various roles of ROS in adult, embryonic, and induced pluripotent stem cells.

ROS-mediated Different Homeostasis of Murine Corneal Epithelial Progenitor Cell Line under Oxidative Stress

“…The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in stem cell biology has become another important research topic of stem cell properties. Although the mechanism underlying the role of ROS in stem cell biology remains largely unknown, multiple reports demonstrate that stem cells have antioxidant properties4567, and that oxidative stress status in the environment of stem cells may also affect the cellular functions of transplanted stem cells891011.…”

Reactive oxygen species in hematopoietic stem cells affect culture outcomes under inflammatory conditions

“…HySOx was originally reported to be suitable for real-time imaging of phagocytes because of its two major properties: 1) Specificity for the single ROS species HOCl, and 2) resistance to autoxidation and to photobleaching. Although interest in relationships between ROS and cellular functions is great, no report has described the cellular roles of individual ROS types, such as superoxide, hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen, and nitric oxide, as they affect a specific biological phenomenon [11,[26][27]. This is most likely due to a lack of complete set of ROS indicators capable of dissecting each single ROS type from others.…”

Differential Response of Human Embryonic Stem and Somatic Cells to Non-Cytotoxic Hydrogen Peroxide Exposure: An Attempt to Model In Vitro the Effects of Oxidative Stress on the Early Embryo

“…It is now well established that ROS excess is directly implicated in more than 100 diseases [2] and this oxidation process can result in lipid cell-membrane damage, protein modification and nucleic acids mutation [3], playing an important role in the pathogenicity of ageing [4], diabetes [5], cardiovascular [6] and neurodegenerative diseases [7,8]. In this study we focus on the consequence of oxidative stress in a cell culture model comparing human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) with somatic cells in order to investigate the different responses in terms of viability, ROS production, lipid peroxidation and gene expression changes.…”