Mesenchymal stromal cells enhance the hematopoietic stem cell-supportive activity of resveratrol

Aim: To examine the stromal cell-mediated effects of trans-resveratrol (TRV) on the fate of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Materials & methods: Proliferation assay, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis assay, flow cytometry, western blot. Results: Using KG1a, we show that TRV has a dose-dependent effect on the proliferation of hematopoietic cells. Its stimulatory effect was significantly enhanced when the cells were cocultured with stromal cells. Addition of TRV in the coculture of murine bone marrow-derived HSCs and stromal cells led to a significant increase in the pool of long-term HSCs. We identify AKT and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase pathways as the players behind the mechanism of growth stimulatory action of TRV. Conclusion: Our findings may have implications in the ex vivo manipulation of HSCs for therapeutic purposes.