Protective Effect of Encapsulated Nanocurcumin- PEGOA against Oxidative Damage on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exposed to Hydroquinone as a Risk Factor for Leukemia

Introduction: Benzene a well-known environmental pollutant is a human carcinogen which is involved in the manifestation of a number of malignancies. Activation of benzene and its reactive metabolites such as hydroquinone (HQ) leads to continuous production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative Stress. Curcumin, the yellow pigment of curcuma longa, has been shown to possess antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo. However, poor bioavailability is the major drawback about of this drug. By using dendrosome, a nontoxic nanoparticle, we tried to deal with this problem. In the present study, we have investigated the protective effects of encapsulated nanocurcumin-PEGOA (ENC) against the HQ-induced oxidative damage in human mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells (hMSCs). Methods: hMSCs were pre-treated with ENC and then exposed to HQ. Cell viability, intracellular ROS and lipid peroxidation extent were assessed by MTT assay, DCFHDA fluorescent dye and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), respectively. Moreover, mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and hemeoxygenase-1 were evaluated by qRT-PCR. Results: The results showed that treatment of MSCs with ENC (10 μM) for 12 hours prior to HQ exposure, significantly attenuated the cell viability loss, suppressed the elevation of ROS and reduced the extent of lipid peroxidation caused by HQ compared with the control. Moreover, a significant increase in mRNA expression of antioxidant genes of catalase and hemeoxygenase-1 was observed after treatment with ENC. Conclusions: These results suggest that 10 μM ENC could protect hMSCs against toxic and oxidative effects of HQ. Therefore, ENC may have cancer protective effect.