Curcumin Inhibits Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis Induced by H2O2 in Bovine Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (bADSCs)

In livestock production, oxidative stress (OS) is ubiquitous, reducing animal productivity and product quality. Hence, investigating the mechanisms of oxidative stress in livestock and inhibiting oxidative stress-induced damage is crucial. Curcumin, a plant-derived bioactive compound, exhibits antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) from animal adipose tissue are easily accessible and possess multilineage differentiation potential. Therefore, this work utilized bovine ADSCs to establish an oxidative stress model and investigated the effects of curcumin on oxidative stress and apoptosis. Firstly, bovine ADSCs were isolated and cultured from fetal calf subcutaneous adipose tissue. Their surface markers were identified by immunofluorescence, confirming the expression of CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105 and Vimentin, but not CD34, indicative of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cell characteristics. Secondly, to explore the effects of curcumin on oxidative damage and apoptosis in bovine ADSCs, an oxidative stress model was induced using H₂O₂. CCK-8 assays showed significantly reduced cell viability and SOD activity, along with increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, indicating successful modeling. RT-qPCR further confirmed that 500 μM of H₂O₂ treatment for 24 h promoted apoptosis. Herein, CCK-8 assays indicated a significant reduction in cell viability at >8 μM of curcumin. Thirdly, using 4 μM and 8 μM of curcumin for pre-protection, 8 μM maintained SOD activity, reduced MDA and ROS, inhibited apoptosis-related gene changes (Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3), and suppressed apoptosis according to a TUNEL assay. Fourthly, curcumin's autophagy-inducing potential was hypothesized, which was confirmed by increased LC3-II and decreased P62 expression upon co-treatment with 3-MA. 3-MA inhibited curcumin's antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects, suggesting that curcumin's antioxidant and anti-apoptotic roles may involve autophagy induction. In conclusion, bovine ADSCs are abundant, easily accessible, and multipotent, making them suitable for in vitro expansion. Curcumin alleviated H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in bovine ADSCs, with curcumin also inhibiting apoptosis, likely through autophagy induction. This study validates the protective role of curcumin in bovine ADSCs, with potential applications in livestock production.