Doxycycline enhances survival and self-renewal of human pluripotent stem cells

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Authors: Mi Yoon Chang ; Yong Hee Rhee ; Sang Hoon Yi ; Su Jae Lee ; Rae Kwon Kim ; Hyongbum Kim ; Chang Hwan Park ; Sang Hun Lee

Keywords: Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Doxycycline/pharmacology* ; Embryonic Stem Cells/cytology ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Neural Stem Cells/cytology ; Neurons/cytology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/drug effects* ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/drug effects

Abstract: We here report that doxycycline, an antibacterial agent, exerts dramatic effects on human embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem cells (hESC/iPSCs) survival and self-renewal. The survival-promoting effect was also manifest in cultures of neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from hESC/iPSCs. These doxycycline effects are not associated with its antibacterial action, but mediated by direct activation of a PI3K-AKT intracellular signal. These findings indicate doxycycline as a useful supplement for stem cell cultures, facilitating their growth and maintenance.