Acetylsalicylic acid enhanced neurotrophic profile of epidermal neural crest stem cells: a possible approach for the combination therapy

Stem cell therapy is considered as a promising strategy to treat neurological disorders. Amongst different cell types that are recruited under these devastating conditions, epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI-NCSCs) are known as potential candidates. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or aspirin) is one of the commonly prescribed drugs that might affect the therapeutic potential of the transplanted stem cells. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of ASA on the expression of fundamental growth factors involved in restorative pathways expressed by EPI-NCSCs in vitro for possible combination therapy’s purpose.

EPI-NCSCs were obtained from the rat’s hair follicle. The appropriate ASA concentration to treat the cells was defined based on the MTT assay and then the obtained cells were treated with 80 or 800µM ASA for 1, 3 or 7 days. The relative expressions of Bdnf, Gdnf, Ngf, Neurotrophin-3, Vegf, Gfap, and doublecortin were finally assessed by qRT-PCR.

The obtained data revealed that the growth factors expressions are influenced by concentration and duration of the treatment applied. One-day ASA treatment was found to be able to increase the expression of all the evaluated genes, except Gdnf and doublecortin, which elevated three days later. Herein, seven-day treatment of stem cells with 800µM ASA resulted in higher levels of Bdnf, Vegf, and doublecortin.

Therefore, combination of aspirin and EPI-NCSCs might increase the therapeutic potential of these stem cells to treat neurological disorders.