Ovarian Microenvironment Modulation by Adipose-Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Photobiomodulation Can Alter Osteoblasts Functions in Vitro

Purpose In tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, stem cells are used to produce tissues and organs for both physiological and clinical applications. The interactions among different organs and systems are controlled by chemical and physical stimuli, such as those induced by mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and photobiomodulation (PBM), respectively. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of adipose-derived MSC (AdMSC) and PBM modulations in adult female rat ovaries induced to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in terms of the number of bone marrow stromal cells obtained and the differentiation of these cells into osteoblasts during 14 days of in vitro culture. Methods Bone marrow cells were cultured for 14 days, in the absence and presence of testosterone, prior to analysis of different cellular parameters. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Fisher’s tests, with statistically significant differences among the means considered for p < 0.05. Results For all groups, the highest mean cell number was obtained after 60 days of in vivo treatments. PBM for 30 days and AdMSC for 60 days positively influenced the cell number before cell differentiation. After 14 days in an osteogenic medium, cell multiplication, cell viability, mineralization, and alkaline phosphatase activity were modulated by the chemical and physical treatments, as well as by testosterone. Conclusion The proposed model suggests that ovarian microenvironment modulations induced by mesenchymal stem cells, photobiomodulation, and testosterone can alter the behavior of osteoblasts cultured for 14 days. Lay Summary Homeostasis among organs and systems is maintained by complex mechanisms that interact in precisely and continuously ways, controlled by hormones including local autocrine and paracrine signals and systemic endocrine signals. These biomolecules maintain the dynamic balance of organic microenvironments and can be modulated by mesenchymal stem cells. Physical stimuli, such as photobiomodulation, can also modulate tissue functions and the interaction among organs. Hence, knowing the cell microenvironment control mechanisms is an essential aspect of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.