The nutritional role of Spirulina platensis in the proliferation of stem cells

The Spirulina platensis microalgae are a type of cyanobacteria. Since S. platensis contains 51-71% of proteins, most of the necessary amino acids for the human body and about 7% of different kinds of lipids and vitamins, it has a vast some of the use in agriculture and aviculture. The effect of some probiotic bacteria, which are similar to Spirulina platensis in nutritional elements, on the proliferation of endothelial blood cell, fibroblasts, inflammatory cells have been proven in past studies. Mesenchymal stem cells have a large application in bone and cartilage graft and repair. However, the ability of proliferation of these cells is less; they go to undesirable differentiation after some consecutive passages. Therefore, we used Spirulina as an element to supply the growth factor enhancing mesenchymal stem cell’s ability to proliferate. First, the stromal cells from Rat’s bone marrow were extracted. In the second passage, they were proven as the mesenchymal cell by the use of adipogenesis and osteogenesis differentiation medium and staining. After S.platensis’s culture in standard situations, we purified its extract. Then the cell treatments were done with 7 logarithmic concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.9, 3, 9, 30 μl/ml) from S. platensis’s extract. MTT assay was done to determine the number of living cells, in the next step. Results were analyzed by SPSS. Results obtained from the culture in defined media shown that they differentiated to osteocytes and adipocytes lineage in differentiated media. This evidence proves the existence of mesenchymal stem cells. Statistical analyses showed a significant increase in MSCs proliferation. The maximum level of increased proliferation was in 0.9 μl/ml concentration. Since Spirulina secrets nutritional elements, its extract can be used as growth factors for enhancing the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, optimum concentration for cell treatment with Spirulina’s extract was found. Therefore purified material from Spirulina’s protein can be used for better results in treatment with mesenchymal stem cells.

Keywords:

Spirulina platensis , Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells , Bone marrow stromal cells , Cell proliferation